St Mullins 1-14 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-10
Defending Carlow senior hurling champions St Mullins went into yesterday's county final as rank outsiders against neighbours Mount Leinster Rangers but the "saints" revelled in the underdog tag to record a fully-merited seven-point win over the 2013 Leinster club champions at Netwatch Cullen Park.
In winning a record 25th senior crown and retaining the Willie O'Connor Cup, St Mullins conclusively outfought, out thought and outplayed their south county neighbours. They were tight and disciplined in defence where captain Paudie Kehoe anchored the defence superbly at centre back while further back John Doran and Gary Bennett ensured that goalie Kevin Kehoe had a relatively trouble-free hour.
The teams went point for point over the opening 45 minutes as St Mullins shaded the opening half to take an 0-6 to 0-5 lead into the half-time dressing room.
But eventual winners hit for home in the final quarter, three unanswered points by the 49th minutes putting them 0-11 to 0-08 ahead, the biggest lead they enjoyed up to then.
With centre forward James Doyle and left half forward Marty Kavanagh in outstanding form, this combination drove the final nail in the Rangers coffin on 51 minutes when Kavanagh's provided the scoring pass for Doyle to drill an unstoppable shot past Frank Foley in the Rangers goal.
ST MULLINS: K Kehoe; P Doyle, J Doran, G Bennett; D Whelan, P Kehoe, G Coady; J Kavanagh (0-1), M Walsh (0-2); P Fortune, J Doyle (1-3), M Kavanagh (0-7, four frees); J Walsh, J Murphy, S Murphy (0-1) each. Sub: P Connors for J Walsh (45 mins).
MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS: F Foley; M Doyle, G Doyle, E Coady; M Malone, R Coady, R Kelly; D Phelan, Diarmuid Byrne; Derek Byrne (0-1), E Byrne (0-1), D Murphy (0-5, all frees); P Nolan (0-1), J Coady (0-1), T Joyce. Subs: B Nolan for Kelly (h-t), K McDonald for J Coady (39 mins), J Murphy for Phelan (45 mins), C Nolan (0-1) for E Coady (49 mins), D Grennan for Joyce (59 mins).
Referee: P O'Dwyer (Palatine).
