First-half blitz sets St Mullins up for Carlow hurling title

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