Tue, 02 Jun, 2026 - 16:00

Mount Leinster hosts Puc Fada Ceatharlach

The ‘Clash of the Ash and the tingle in the Fingertips’ sounded loud and clear in brilliant sunshine on famed Sliabh Bawn, Mount Leinster.

Tommy Murphy

The ‘Clash of the Ash and the tingle in the Fingertips’ sounded loud and clear in brilliant sunshine on famed Sliabh Bawn, Mount Leinster last Monday as the young men and women of Cumann Luthchleas Gael Ceatharlach gave of their best to see who could strike the sliothar the farthest in the Puc Fada finals in hurling and football.

Brilliant sunshine and low wind made conditions ideal for all. Competitors from the hurling and camogie clubs are to be highly congratulated for the deep interest, passion and love they put in to each stroke as they make their way through the rugged course of short heather for an approximate distance of three kilometres where they arrive at a Cairn of Stones possibly thousands of years old.

All competitors will know how they are progressing at this stage and then begin the long journey back down to base or should we say “Na Naoi Clocha” the “Nine Stones.”

Sarah Sheehan winner of the Ladies senior Poc Fada with second place MLR'S Rachel Breen and Bronagh Myers from Carlow Town who came third.

The level of competition was very high this year in all categories and particular in senior hurling where defending champion Ciaran Abbey of Naomh Eoin just held off the super challenge of former winner Mark Ryan of St. Mullins after travelling the six kilometres they each had the same number of strikes thirty six, with Ciaran Abbeys sliothar and last shot passing Mark Ryans by sixty metres great competition.

Sarah Sheehan (Myshall Camogie Club), a former under 16 champion, took her first senior title with two strokes less than here nearest opponent. Keelan Carroll of St. Mullins took the under 16 Hurling title for the first time, as did Sheana O’Neill Myshall Camogie Club winning the under 16 camogie title.

The organising committee would like to deeply acknowledge and thank all the men and women volunteers from the clubs who acted as markers and spotters and did a great job and to all the supporters who made the event a great success.

Ciaran Abbey, Keelan O’Carroll, Sarah Sheehan and Sheana O’Neill go forward to represent Carlow in the Leinster Puc Fada finals in hurling and camogie again on Sliabh Bawn, Mount Leinster on Saturday 27 June.