Ruthless Rangers run riot in Fenagh as Moling malign missed chances
Naomh Moling's Diarmuid Power cannot prevent Mount Leinster Rangers' Donagh Muprhy from scoring one of his seven points.
Mount Leinster Rangers are through to the Stryve U21 Hurling Championship 'A' Final after a dominant win over Naomh Moling on Sunday afternoon at the Centre of Excellence in Fenagh.
A goal apiece in the first half from Ruairi Murphy, who finished with 1-4, and Luke Kavanagh helped Rangers to a nine-point lead at half time before adding another 14 points in the second half to win by 20 in the end. Donagh Murphy was also instrumental for Rangers as he left with 0-7 to his name.
Naomh Moling left a lot of points out on the field in Fenagh and will wonder how they lost the third quarter despite being the far better team.
Rangers dominated the round robin phase of the championship, finishing top of the table with four wins from four. Naomh Moling, meanwhile, took the last spot in the semi-finals thanks to their sole victory which came against Burren Rangers.
The game began with a pair of scores from Donagh Murphy in the opening four minutes before a free from Sean Connolly at the other end got Naomh Moling off the mark.
Ruairi Murphy pointed a first free for Rangers as they led by two after ten minutes.
Kyle Nolan, Jack Griffin and Joey Dalton all added their names to the scoresheet as Rangers extended the lead to five points midway through the half.
Naomh Moling had chances to close the gap but shot three wides in that period. Rangers punished them in a big way in the 18th minute when Ruairi Murphy found space in front of goal and drilled the ball low and hard beyond Diarmuid Power, who moments before had mada a wonderful save to deny Kyle Nolan.
The wide-count continued to grow for Naomh Moling until Mosie Murphy knocked one between the posts.
Murphy pointed again for Rangers with Moling landing twice in return through Sean Grennan and Sean Connolly.
The result was put practically beyond doubt just before the break, however, when a great strike form Luke Kavanagh hit the top corner to raise a second green flag for Rangers which left them 2-7 to 0-4 up at the break.
The second half started in the same vein as the first, with Naomh Moling squandering chances while Rangers were ruthlessly efficient.
Colm Kavanagh went on a fabulous run through the Rangers defence, but saw his shot well saved by Eoin Coleman, instead having to settle for a 65.
Rangers had very little territory or possession in the first ten minutes of the second half, yet outscored Moling by 0-3 to 0-1 in that period, including a pair of frees from Murphy. Griffin and Dalton added another two scores, while Moling had only two points to show for their superiority in the third quarter.
Rangers finished the game with nine points on the bounce, five of which came from the outstanding Donagh Murphy.
There was time for one last score from Naomh Moling's' Sean Connolly to bring the game to a close, but it is Mount Leinster Rangers who march on to the U21 Hurling Championship 'A' Final.
Ruairi Murphy 1-4 (0-3f), Donagh Murphy 0-7 (3f), Luke Kavanagh 1-0, Jack Griffin and Kyle Nolan 0-3 each, Joey Dalton 0-2, Jack Cummins and Tim Brennan 0-1 each.
Sean Connolly 0-4 (3f), Colm Kavanagh ('65), Mosie Murphy and Sean Grennan 0-1 each.
Eoin Coleman; Gavin Murphy, Patrick Stafford, Mark Dundon; Conaill Fitzpatrick, Jack Foley, Joey Dalton; Tim Brennan, Jack Griffin; Brad Bolger, Donagh Murphy, Kyle Nolan; Ruairi Murphy, James Nolan, Luke Kavanagh.
Jack Cummins for Nolan (HT), Michael Joyce and Eoin Doyle for R Murphy and Griffin (both 40), Tomas Joyce and Edward Fenlon for Dundon and G Murphy (both 49).
Diarmuid Power; Andy Ralph, Ciaran Harris, Mark Gladney; Conor Ryan, Brian Collier, Sean Collier; Colm Kavanagh, Eamon O'Shea; Sean Kavanagh, Mosie Murphy, Mark O'Shea; Sean Grennan, Sean Connolly, Padraig Fenlon.
Conor Moran for M O'Shea (40).
Paud O'Dwyer
