Raharney (Westmeath) 2-11
St Mullins (Carlow) 0-9
A great goal under pressure from experienced corner forward John Shaw 10 minutes into the second half proved crucial as Raharney deservedly advanced to the semi-final of the Leinster senior hurling club championship with an eight-point win over St Mullins in Mullingar yesterday.
The wind-assisted Westmeath champions started in blistering fashion with the 17-year-old Doyle twins, Ciaran and Killian, contributing 1-3 between them to open up a six-point lead with less than six minutes elapsed, the goal coming from a long-range free by Killian that went in off a defender's hurley. However, with Marty Kavanagh in fine form, the Carlow men clawed their way back into the game. The deficit was down to four points at the break (1-5 to 0-4).
Three more points from Kavanagh left St Mullins just a point down after 36 minutes. But a point from Robbie Greville and Shaw's goal turned the tide firmly in favour of the home team. Sandwiched between two late converted frees from Raharney substitute Brian Connaughton, St Mullins's Seamus Murphy picked up a red card in the 59th minute.
RAHARNEY: A Doyle; T Doyle, C Jordan, D Giles; G Greville, P Greville, A Sheils; N Flanagan, C Boyle (0-1); J Boyle, K Doyle (1-4, frees), R Greville (0-1); C Doyle (0-3), B Smyth, J Shaw (1-0). Subs: C Flanagan for J Boyle (38 mins), B Connaughton (0-2, frees) for N Flanagan (54 mins).
ST MULLINS: K Kehoe; P Doyle, J Doran, D Whelan; P Kehoe (0-1, free), G Coady, P Fortune; M Walsh, C Kavanagh; M Kavanagh (0-8, 0-6 frees), J Murphy, T Doyle; J Doyle, S Murphy, J Kavanagh. Subs: D Murphy for Fortune (h-t), J Walsh for M Walsh (53 mins).
Referee: G McGrath (Dublin).
