Burren finish with a flourish to reach Intermediate final
Burren Rangers Daniel Bolger (Burren Rangers) is closed by Mount Leinster Rangers duo Jack Ryan and Dan Ryan
A late surge at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday from Burren Rangers saw them clinch a place in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Intermediate Hurling Championship final.
The eventual winners had an edge for most of the game but Mount Leinster Rangers dug in and there was little between the sides all through.
Luke Roche scored an early goal for Mount Leinster but with Lorcan Doyle knocking over three late points in the half, Burren took a narrow 0-12 to 1-7 lead into half-time.
Jack Foley scored his fifth point of the game early in the second half with Cathal Healy cancelling out that score for Burren. Mount Leinster Rangers got a break when a speculative shot from distance from Robert Stafford saw the ball elude Joe Waters in the Burren goal. To his goalkeeper’s horror, the ball dropped underneath the crossbar and over the line. Now the Borris side were ahead by 2-8 to 0-13. From there both sides worked hard and the exchanges were intense with some good quality play.
Dylan Townsend continued to pull the strings for Burren while Foley registered four points for Mount Leinster after the resumption. When Foley equalised with four minutes to go it was anyone’s game. A marginal decision went in favour of Burren Rangers and Townsend’s free from half-way put his side in front again.
When players squared up to each other, Aaron Gordon of Burren and Eoin Doyle for Mount Leinster both received straight red cards. Those moments were out of context with what had gone before as Burren pushed on with scores from Healy and Townsend to book their place in the final.
D Townsend 0-7 (4fs), B Nolan, L Doyle, C Healy 0-3 each, M Carroll, (1f), S Metcalfe 0-2 each. R Ward, D Bolger 0-1 each.
J Foley 0-8 (6fs), L Roche 1-0, R Stafford 1-0, P Kavanagh 0-2, L Kavanagh, J Cummins, E Doyle 0-1 each.
Joe Waters; Aaron Gordon, Daniel Bolger, Kieran Donald; Padraig Waters, Conor Bolger, Eoin Doyle; Martin Carroll, Billy Molloy; Cathal Healy, Lorcan Doyle, Jimmie Carroll; Robbie Ward, Billy Nolan, Dylan Townsend. Subs: Cormac McElligott for P Waters (temporary 15), Stephen Metcalfe for Ward (h/t), Jim Nolan for Molloy (45), Billy Shanahan for D Bolger (52).
Eoin Coleman; Gavin Murphy, Gavin Ryan, Dan Ryan; Jack Griffith, Garry Lawlor, Mark Dundon; Declan Brennan, Eoin Doyle (Kyle); Jack Foley, Robert Stafford, Joey Dalton; Pauric Kavanagh, Luke Roche, Luke Kavanagh. Subs: Michael O’Grady for Roche (h/t), Jack Cummins for Dalton (h/t), Mike Joyce for P Kavanagh (50).
Brian Deering (Rathvilly).
