Rangers take title after dominant display
Mount Leinster Rangers captain Jack Foley raises the CENTAL MHC ''A trophy after their defeat of Burren Rangers/Kildavin-Clonegal Photo: Pat Ahern
Mount Leinster Rangers regained the under 18 Division 1 Hurling title when they beat last year’s winners in the final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Monday evening.
The amalgamated side started best with Robbie Ward, Edward O’Byrne and Martin Carroll (free) all picking off some nice points. Ruairi Murphy’s free got Mount Leinster off the mark and the Borris side were in the game.
The Burren/Kildavin keeper, James Bergin, did well to save from Murphy as Rangers came in waves. That pressure was rewarded with a point from Kyle Nolan. Burren replied with further points from James Hogan and Carroll.
Joey Dalton struck for a Mount Leinster goal when a defensive error allowed the right-half forward a shot from close range. Another Murphy free nudged Mount Leinster ahead but the green and white clad side scored the last three points of the half to take a 0-8 to 1-3 lead into the interval.
Murphy was to be the significant figure of the second half. When the MLR midfielder made a run through the middle, space opened up in front of him. He just kept going and found the net with a deliciously placed shot into the bottom right hand corner.
At the end of the third quarter, the reigning champions lost Ciaran Scott to two yellows for high tackles. There was no malice. More clumsy than anything else but referees have been instructed not to allow any wriggle room in such situations. Referee, Shane Foley, had no option.
Three points on the trot from Murphy opened up a gap between the two teams. Two wides from the Burren/Kildavin side hurt them when they needed to get back into the game. Murphy and substitute, Adam Joyce, added further points and Rangers keeper, Darragh Coleman, kept out a shot from Daniel Bolger.
With time ebbing away, Dalton picked off a lovely point to go with his earlier three-pointer. Murphy brought his total to an impressive 1-8 and the Borris side were back on top of the pile for minor hurling in the county.
R Murphy 1-8 (7fs, 65), J Dalton 1-1, K Nolan, A Joyce 0-1 each
M Carroll 0-4 (fs), J Hogan, E O’Byrne, J Nolan, R Ward 0-1 each
Darragh Coleman; Darragh Coleman, Gavin Murphy, Jack Redmond; Karl Lawlor, Mark Dundon, Harry Griffith; Eoin Doyle, Ruairi Murphy; Joey Dalton, Jack Foley, Jack Joyce; Kyle Nolan, Fionn O’Brien, Barry Coleman. Subs: Noel Jordan for O’Brien (48), Adam Joyce for Joyce (54), Aidan Savage Kelly for B Coleman (57), Tom Murphy for Doyle (58), Paddy O’Brien for Dalton (60).
James Bergin; James Haskins, Lorcan Kinsella, Sam Meyler; Kieran Donald, Eoin Doyle, Ciaran Scott; Martin Carroll, Daniel Bolger; James Hogan, Aaron Dowling, Jake Nolan; Edward O’Byrne, Billy Flynn, Robbie Ward. Subs: Michael Shanahan for Dowling (40), Lorcan Cassins for Flynn (60).
Shane Foley (St Mullins).
