St Mullins 2-25 Mount Leinster Rangers 3-16
St Mullins are the Carlow senior hurling champions for the 29th time in their history when they produced a superb first half performance which all but clinched victory in Netwatch Cullen Park.
After losing a four-point lead in injury time the previous week, it all went wrong here for Mount Leinster Rangers, the reigning champions, when they lost Dean Tobin to a straight red card on seven minutes.
With intercounty players, Paddy Boland, Marty Kavanagh and James Doyle all knocking over a succession of points, the eventual winners led 0-10 to 0-04 after 18 minutes. Rangers were in deep trouble against a side who had momentum but hadn't made it tell on the scoreboard.
Their opponents upped the ante and goals from Marty Kavanagh and Jason O’Neill eased the challengers into a 2-17 to 0-10 half-time lead.
Jason O’Neill's first Mullins goal on 19 minutes came when he took a pass from Kavanagh to find the net from close range. Shortly afterwards, the provider turned goal-scorer when Kavanagh beat his opposite number and gave Dean Grennan no chance in the Rangers goal.
Rangers had scoring problems in the half with Chris Nolan landing five points from play and Ted Joyce converting three frees. Also on the mark was Kevin McDonald with a free and Jon Nolan from play. They needed more.
With the wind behind them in the second half, the holders didn’t give up their title easily but it took them a while to get going. In the opening minutes of the second period, Kavanagh nailed two St Mullins points and Jason O’Neill added another. Ted Joyce converted a Rangers free.
After that, the attempted comeback gathered momentum. Chris Nolan rifled in a goal on 38 minutes. At the start of the final quarter he was on the mark again with another three-pointer before Kavanagh steadied St Mullins' nerves with a free.
The St Mullins last line of defence had to be on their toes in the final minutes as Rangers chased down what was proving to be an impossible task.
A late Kevin McDonald free dropped under the crossbar for Rangers third three-pointer but it all proved to be in vain as Rangers regained some pride but St Mullins won back the title which they last held two years ago.
St Mullins: Kevin Kehoe; Paidi O’Shea, Paul Doyle, Eamon O’Shea; Ger Coady, Michael Walsh, Paudi Kehoe; Conor Kehoe (0-02), Ciaran Harris; Jack Kavanagh (0-01), James Doyle (0-03 (1f)), Patrick Boland (0-06); Marty Kavanagh (1-10 (3-65s 5fs)), John Doyle, Jason O'Neill (1-03 (1-sl)).
Subs: John Doran for Harris (57), Oisin Ryan for M Kavanagh (58).
Mount Leinster Rangers: Dean Grennan; Michael Doyle, Michael Joyce, Sean Joyce; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald (1-03 (all fs)), Tony Lawlor; Richie Coady, Jon Nolan (0-01); Dean Tobin, Ted Joyce (0-06 (fs)), Donagh Murphy (0-01); Jamie Nolan, Eddie Byrne, Chris Nolan (2-05).
Subs: Paul Coady for Jamie Nolan (h/t), Diarmaid Byrne for M Joyce (h/t), Ciarain Kavanagh for Kealy (57), Eoin Doyle for Murphy (57),
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Ballinkillen)
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