Boland bags hat-trick as champions begin with convincing win
St Mullins' Paddy Boland beats Ballinkillen goalkeeper Thomas Dowling for the first of his three goals
St Mullins had this senior hurling championship second round game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday in the bag by half-half when they led by 5-7 to 0-10. Fears that they might not be sharp as they had no game last week were certainly wrong as they went on a goal-fest and did enough to slow the challenge of Ballinkillen.
Paddy Boland set the goal frenzy in motion when he rose high to collect a side-line ball and turning he gave Tommy Dowling no chance between the Ballinkillen sticks.
Before the interval, Colm Kavanagh, Marty Kavanagh, with two, and Boland again added three-pointers while Seamus Murphy was never tested in the St Mullins goal. Just to emphasise the reigning county champions domination, they were able to introduce Oisin Ryan in the second half who straightaway put up his hand for a starting place when scoring 1-1 in quick succession. Boland completed his hat-trick with eleven minutes to go with another of his catch and deliver unstoppable rockets.
M Kavanagh 2-5 (1-0 pen 4fs), P Boland 3-2, C Kavanagh 1-1, John Doyle 0-4, O Ryan 1-1, L Brennan 0-2, James Doyle (Dranagh), E O’Shea 0-1 each
C Whelan 0-8 (4fs), S Murphy 0-4, E English 0-3, K Kavanagh 0-2, C Wall 0-1.
Seamus Murphy; Paidi O’Shea, Paul Doyle, Ciaran Harris; Ger Coady, Paud Kehoe, James Doyle (Drummond); Eamonn O’Shea, Laurence Brennan; Jack Kavanagh, James Doyle (Dranagh), John Doyle; Colm Kavanagh, Marty Kavanagh, Paddy Boland.
Subs: Oisin Ryan for J Kavanagh (21), Oisin Boland for Coady (43), Mosie Murphy for C Kavanagh (55).
Thomas Dowling; Sean Brennan, Dion Wall, Ciaran O’Neill; Eric English, David English, Fionn Hickey; Jamie Wall, Cormac Lomax; Ciaran Whelan, Sean Murphy, Craig Wall; Kevin Kavanagh, Padraig Hynes, Jack Treacy. Subs: Adam Ryan for Brennan (h/t), Sean Cummins for Wall (44), Mark Foley for Treacy (48), Eoin Kavanagh for Murphy (62).
Sean McCormack (Carlow Town).
