Rangers back in another final
Craig Wall from Ballinkillen gets in his shot with Ciaráin Kavangh in close proximity.
A superior second half performance at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday clinched Mount Leinster Rangers a place in yet another county senior hurling final. In a tight first half where the holders trailed on two occasions by a single point they upped it on the resumption and pulled away for their anticipated victory.
Jon Nolan scored the first of his four first half points and this was followed up by further white flags through Dean Tobin and Richard Coady. Ballinkillen hit back with points through Sean Murphy, Jack Treacy and Shane Kelly.
Goal chances were few and far between with Rangers playing against the wind into the scoreboard end of the ground. Ted Joyce did have a chance when Rangers went right but the centre-forward shot into the side-netting. Tommy Dowling, in the Ballinkillen goal, also denied Joyce when Rangers came in search of a three-pointer.
At the interval, Rangers led 0-11 to 0-9. Ballinkillen had been particularly well served by Craig Wall. He may have worn number 18 on his back and replaced defender Sean Brennan on the programme but his work up front and his compilation of three points in the first half underlined his danger to a Rangers defence.
On the restart, Ciaran Whelan converted a Ballinkillen free to reduce the margin to a single point. That was as good as it was going to get for the outsiders. Joyce has been the form player in the championship for Rangers. Once again, he won clean possession and his pass picked out Eddie Byrne. The big full-forward laps up those kind of off-loads and he made no mistake when firing home for a game changing three-pointer.
Joyce almost found the net again but he was crowded out by an alert Ballinkillen defence who must have been somewhat shaken by the concession of that early second half goal.
Rangers were purring now. Evan Kealy raised a white flag. Jon Nolan added another point. Sean Murphy hit back for Ballinkillen with a point but a quick pass to Byrne produced another Rangers point. A passing movement out of defence yielded another. This time for Conaill Fitzpatrick.
Jack Treacy replied for Ballinkillen with a point. Whelan added a free. That was cancelled out by a Kevin McDonald 65 as Rangers kept their rivals at arm’s length.
Another long delivery produced another goal for the eventual winners. This time Eoin Doyle benefitted as the second half replacement used his strength to bully a defence who had done well.
It was job done for Rangers. Ballinkillen hit back for a goal through Padraig Hynes and even though Sean Murphy pointed, his name-sake, Donagh, converted a free to end the scoring for Rangers.
TALKING POINTS The wind was a factor Twice in the first half, Kevin McDonald stood over placed balls between the half way line and the 65. Normally this would be easy picking for the Carlow and Rangers number six but both shots dropped short into what was a stiffish breeze. Contrast this to the second half when McDonald had one chance from distance and carefully planted the sliotar over the bar.
Jon Nolan, the Man of the Match When the going was tough in the first half, as Ballinkillen threw the gauntlet down to the reigning champions, it was Jon Nolan who kept Rangers ticking over scoring four superb points from distance. Bear in mind that the wind was a factor so this outlined the contribution of the number nine on the day.
Rangers scoring ability.
Richard Coady, wearing number five on his back, both midfielders and all the six starting forwards scored from play for Rangers. It was a really good team performance and one which manager, Paul O’Brien, alluded to afterwards.
“There are so many good forwards in Carlow. It is hard to be marking all of them,” he said.
“The last two days we brought on players who have made an impact. It is great to know that when you are bringing players on from the bench that they are making an impact.”
