Mount Leinster Rangers 3-16
St Mullin's 1-18
Chris Nolan was the Mount Leinster Rangers hero in the Carlow Senior Hurling Final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday where he scored 3-06 for the holders as they retained their title in a pulsating finish.
Rangers were quickly into their stride and while they fell behind to a Conor Kehoe free, Joe Dundon landed a great point from half-way to level matters. The champions in waiting threatened and only a smother defence prevented Nolan from getting in behind for what would surely have been a three-pointer.
Rangers didn't have to wait too long and when Ted Joyce drew the penalty Nolan found the bottom left hand corner of the net.
St Mullins depended on Kehoe’s accuracy from frees and were punished once again when Nolan looped around the St Mullins defence to shoot low and hard to the bottom right hand corner of the net.
St Mullins did launch a long delivery into the Rangers small square which had the potential to cause problems but keeper, Dean Grennan, kept his eye on the dropping ball and cleared the danger. At the interval, Rangers led 2-07 to 0-08.
The second half was a completely different affair.
Donagh Murphy landed an early Rangers point but a 33rd minute goal from Kehoe opened up the game. Unfortunately for the challengers, a looping shot from Nolan eluded the keeper and dipped under the crossbar for a three-pointer.
St Mullins didn’t wilt and could have had a goal when Marty Kavanagh broke clear. He had only the keeper to beat but Grennan guessed the right way as he threw his body in front of the sliotar and cleared the danger.
The challengers had all the momentum now as they poured forward. John Doyle’s long range point left only two between them with seven minutes to go. Paddy Boland scored his second point and Kehoe levelled for Mullins.
The Rangers' reply was the mark of champions when captain, Richard Coady, landed a spectacular point to restore his side’s lead. Nolan and Kehoe would go on to exchange points but another Nolan white flag put a modicum of distance between the two teams.
It was Rangers day when Nolan, in possession, fell to the ground but he got up to land an inspiring point. It was all over a winner and just to make certain, his brother, Jamie, who had just entered the fray, got on the scoreboard when landing a point deep in injury time to cement a Rangers victory.
Mount Leinster Rangers: Dean Grennan; Michael Doyle, Evan Kealy, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Kevin McDonald, Diarmuid Byrne, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Richard Coady (0-02), Joe Dundon (0-02); Donagh Murphy (0-02), Jon Nolan, Paul Coady; Chris Nolan (3-06, 1-00pen, 3f), Ted Joyce (0-02), Ruairi Murphy (0-01).
Subs: Eddie Byrne for J Nolan (h/t), Jamie Nolan (0-01) for P Coady (40), Dean Tobin for R Murphy (51), Kyle Nolan for Joyce (57).
St Mullins: Seamus Murphy; Laurence Brennan, Paudie Kehoe, Ciaran Harris; Paul Doyle, Michael Walsh, Ger Coady; Jack Kavanagh, Eamonn O'Shea; James Doyle (0-01), Marty Kavanagh (0-04, 2f), John Doyle (0-01), Conor Kehoe (1-10, 8f), Paddy Boland (0-02), Colm Kavanagh.
Subs: Paidi O’Shea for Coady (h/t).
Referee: Sean McCormack
