Mount Leinster Rangers 2-19 St Mullins 3-16
Two sides who have built up a healthy rivalry over the last 20 years played out an exciting draw in the Carlow senior hurling final on Sunday.
With the last attack of the game, challengers St Mullins, who lead the Carlow senior hurling role of honour, worked the ball from inside their own half and Marty Kavanagh was on hand to find the net and level the game.
There was an explosive start when Mount Leinster Rangers swooped for a Ciaran Kavanagh goal. The reigning champions continued to press and led 1-04 to 0-01 after eight minutes.
Former St Kieran's All-Ireland medal winner Donagh Murphy was very much in form. He scored two points in the first half and doubled his total after the break. It was all action and at one stage Rangers led by seven points in the half.
St Mullins finally came to terms with the pace of the game and another intercounty star, Jack Kavanagh, netted with a speculative effort from outside the 20-metre line.
His inter-county colleague, James Doyle, also passed up on an excellent goal chance when, from the edge of the small square, he mishit his shot and the ball fell nicely for Dean Grennan to save.
Eddie Byrne was on hand to rifle home from the edge of the small square but once again Jack Kavanagh fired to the bottom-right-hand corner of the Rangers net.
Right on the whistle, Kavanagh’s brother Marty, took the scoring pass and raised a white flag to leave Rangers only leading 2-09 to 2-07 at the interval.
With the game finally balanced once more, it turned out to be an epic second half. Rangers threatened to pull away but just as they did in the opening half, St Mullins dug in.
At one point it looked as if St Mullins were winning the mini battles but Rangers hit back and it was they who looked set to take control once more. Murphy added two points while Byrne was also on target.
St Mullins didn’t buckle. In reply, James Doyle registered three points while Conor Kehoe and Jason O’Neill were also on the mark for the challengers.
Some of the scores were out of the top bracket - Tony Lawlor’s effort from inside his own half was a showcase for Carlow hurling.
James Doyle wanted a bit more of the action and his point was vital for St Mullins. Rangers still looked to be taking a significant lead when Chris Nolan and Joyce knocked over points to put the champions four clear in injury time.
Then came the late revival with Marty Kavanagh as the central figure. He had already missed two frees but he held his head to convert one.
When a Rangers attack broke down, rescue was on hand for St Mullins and Marty Kavanagh’s strike brought that dramatic leveller.
There was a few more moments of drama at the end with the scoreboard suggesting St Mullins had won by a point.
Referee, Paud O’Dwyer was experienced enough to know he could not blow for full-time until the situation was rectified. Then came clarification and they will have to do it all over again next weekend.
SCORERS - Mount Leinster Rangers: T Joyce 0-7 (4fs), E Byrne 1-2,C Kavanagh 1-0, D Murphy 0-4, J Nolan 0-3,C Nolan, T Lawlor, K McDonald (f) 0-1 each. St Mullins: M Kavanagh 1-8 (5fs), J Kavanagh 2-0, James Doyle 0-6, C Kehoe, J O'Neill 0-1 each
Mount Leinster Rangers: Dean Grennan; Michael Doyle, Michael Joyce, Sean Joyce; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald (Captain), Tony Lawlor; Richard Coady, Jon Nolan; Dean Tobin, Ted Joyce, Donagh Murphy; Ciarán Kavanagh, Edward Byrne, Chris Nolan.
Subs: Conaill Fitzpatrick for Kavanagh (h/t), Diarmuid Byrne for Tobin (49),
St Mullins: Kevin Kehoe; Paídí O’Shea, Paul Doyle, John Doran; Ger Coady (Captain), Michael Walsh, Paudie Kehoe; Eamon O’Shea, Ciaran Harris; Jack Kavanagh, James Doyle (Dranagh), Conor Kehoe; Marty Kavanagh, John Doyle, Paddy Boland.
Subs: Oisin Ryan for Doran (21), Jason O’Neill for Harris (h/t), Seamus Murphy for Ryan (55).
Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Palatine).
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