Glory for Mount Leinster Rangers as they topple St Mullins in Carlow SHC final

Carlow SHC Final

Mount Leinster Rangers 3-19 St Mullins 1-17

Mount Leinster Rangers produced a superb performance at Netwatch Cullen Park today and banished the memories of last year where they had to watch their neighbours win a county title when Bagenalstown Gaels, at the semi-final stage, had dashed their hopes of three-in-a-row titles

From the very start, the new champions in waiting were on the front foot with eventual Man of the Match winner, Chris Nolan, firing over two points and Donagh Murphy also on the mark.

The first goal was coming and it duly arrived when Dean Tobin attacked down the left and fired home.

At the other end, goalkeeper, Frank Foley, who in is in his mid-forties, had come out of semi-retirement made a wonderful catch underneath his own posts. It was a sign that Rangers were feeling strong and confident.

On the other hand, Marty Kavanagh, was clearly suffering from the effect of an early knock and was only a shadow of himself for St Mullins.

Rangers continued to dictate the game and Nolan beat his marker on the right before firing home. Their supporters were in dream world when Fiachra Fitzpatrick picked up a loose clearance to score Rangers third goal. At the break, they had one hand on the trophy when leading 3-9 to 0-10.

St Mullins never built up any momentum in the second half. They did score a goal through Jason O'Neill but, crucially, Donagh Murphy, hit back for Rangers with a gem of a point. St Mullins substitute, Seamus Murphy, was defiant scoring two points in the second half but it was never going to be enough.

When Kavanagh wound himself up for a shot at the Rangers goal, he was cleverly hooked by a defender and for all intents and purposes that was it. St Mullins had no answer as Ciaran