Bergin inspires Clough/Ballacolla to fifth Laois SHC title in six years

Stephen Bergin fired 1-13 as Clough/Ballacolla claimed the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for the fifth time in six years with a 2-21 to 2-15 win over Camross at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

Bergin was deadly accurate from frees and open play, bagging 1-7 in the first half to set the holders – who came into the final as underdogs – up for another title. Remarkably, his tally was matched by Zane Keenan, who posted 2-10 for Camross, and certainly didn’t deserve to finish on the losing side.

Clough/Ballacolla led by 2-9 to 2-6 at the interval after Keenan traded goals with Willie Dunphy and Bergin. The winners had doubled their advantage to 2-16 to 2-10 by the 48th minute before Camross rallied with points from Keenan and Eoghan Cuddy (two) to leave just a goal in it again.

But they couldn’t get any closer as a late burst of scores from Jordan Walshe, subs Joe Corby and Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher as well as Bergin sealed the deal.