St Mullins will have to be at their best to wrestle back SHC title from Mount Leinster Rangers
Mount Leinster Rangers' Edward Byrne is surrounded by Naomh Moling’s Conor Kehoe, Paul Doyle and John Doran during last year's SHC final Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
On Sunday St Mullins and Mount Leinster Rangers will meet in a senior county final for the 11th time in their history. In the head to head tussles, Rangers have come out on top on five further occasions since a great rivalry was founded in 2006.
On the other hand, St Mullins lead the Carlow Roll of Honour winning a staggering 28 titles with Rangers registering 11 in 18 years.
Both sides are almost unbeatable in Carlow at the moment. Bagenalstown Gaels almost caught St Mullins twice in the semi-finals this year but St Mullins had that little bit of savvy while riding their luck to qualify for the final.
Those two St Mullins performances didn’t match their early season form where they looked really impressive. Early on, all around the field there were no weak links. James Doyle looked unstoppable and was taking the frees.
Nobody gave Bagenalstown Gaels a chance in the semi-final but St Mullins were unable to put their rivals away and while they conceded a late goal, the South Carlow side were not unhappy to have a replay.
Yet in that second game, St Mullins have looked a shadow of the side that played in the group stages. It is almost sacrilege to say it but they seem to lack confidence. James Doyle missing two sitters from frees in the original game seems to have affected one of Carlow’s greatest. After leaving the placed balls duties to his intercounty colleague earlier in the season, Kavanagh has taken over again. Yet the Mouse is not sharp. It was suggested that he is carrying an injury but manager, Tommy Buggy, says this is not the case.
All around the field in their semi-final games, St Mullins had looked short on confidence which is an astonishing thing to say. Only in the extra time did the shackles come loose and they destroyed their opponents.
Up the road in Borris, the Mount Leinster Rangers club is buzzing. For the second year in a row they contest the junior, intermediate and senior finals.
Mind you, St Mullins are also in the intermediate final.
Rangers are relying heavily on a team which is permeated with youth. Yet every line in their team has players with more than one senior championship medal.
For example, Michael Doyle lines out alongside Michael and Sean Joyce in the full-back line. At midfield, rookie, Conaill Fitzpatrick, plies his trade alongside Jon Nolan. Up front Eddie Byrne hurled alongside Ciaran Kavanagh and Donagh Murphy in the semi-final.
On paper, St Mullins probably look that little bit stronger. If Rangers play to their potential and St Mullins allow their concentration to waver as it did in the semi-finals, there will only be one winner.
Mount Leinster Rangers
All the pointers suggest the holders, St Mullins, are going to retain their title. A bit like the 16 Bus, they waited 11 years and in 2023 they bridged that gap and won an intermediate title. Now they are back again and convincingly so. They have put up some big scorers. Notably against Naomh Eoin where the Myshall side shipped 6-16. Six wins out of six is championship winning form.
When the two sides met in Borris, it was a low-key affair with St Mullins prevailing. One felt the home side were only playing in fits and starts then. Carlow Town also hit them with a late goal and inflicted a one-point defeat on the Rangers. Unlike the side they meet on Saturday, the challengers cannot be accused of consistency. They did register wins against Bagenalstown Gaels and Kildavin-Clonegal but in horse racing terms it was a bit similar to winning handicaps rather than group tests.
It is Group 2 action now. Former intercounty star, Seamus Murphy, is key for St Mullins. He has been unstoppable this year. He may have only scored 0-1 in his opening game of the championship against Kildavin-Clonegal but he has picked off 0-5, 1-3 and 2-4 in subsequent games. His 1-5 in the semi-final helped crush Naomh Eoin hopes. Colm Kavanagh is not that far behind. No relation to Jack, Marty or Chris he hit 1-3 in the semi-final and looks very much like a fella that would be comfortable in the senior team.
Rangers can call on a wealth of experience too. Richie Kelly is their stand-out player in the defence. Denis Murphy leads the attack but Robert Stafford, at midfield, alongside Joe Dundon, Ben Bolger and Jack Flood bring a refreshing look to their challenge.
How Rangers would love to win this one. The intermediate grade hasn’t been good to them in recent years. They need a 15-man performance plus on Saturday and get the breaks as well. There are too many ifs here. St Mullins are tried and proven. It is hard to vote against them.
St Mullins
For the outcome of the respective opponents of this final, there are contrasting scenarios. For Rangers, while winning would lift the players, the management team and the club, it won’t be the end of the world if they don’t.
On the other hand, there is only one outcome which will satisfy an entire Burren Rangers club. Victory.
The Covid final in 2020 behind closed doors brought Burren a heavy defeat from Ballinkillen. In the semi-final the following year they went down to Bagenalstown Gaels and lost to St Mullins in the final in 2022. Last year Kildavin-Clonegal won the final and Burren Rangers need no reminding that they didn’t even make the last two.
Despite the hurt, they have come back with a bigger and what looks like a very strong panel. Six wins out of six is not season defining but it is good. They dished out a hefty 2-20 defeat to St Mullins in the semi-final and were really impressive in Tinryland that day.
Rangers narrow but fighting win over Ballinkillen in their semi-final will be of benefit to them. For Burren, no matter what they will say to themselves, it is hard not to get complacent when you are winning. Yes, Burren Rangers are in that arena. Mount Leinster have lost one game and drawn another in the group stages. They were a tad lucky to get over Ballinkillen in the last four. They come knowing that deep down they need a performance.
Eoin Fenlon looks to be Mount Leinster’s key forward. He scored ten points in the semi while Rory Joyce chipped in with three points.
Dylan Townsend is shooting out the lights every time he dons a Burren jersey. Yet they are far from a one-man team. Lorcan Doyle, Tom Donald and Matthew English Hayden provide skill and steel. Billy Shanahan and Daniel Bolger know where the posts are.
It is time for Burren Rangers. A win on Sunday could define an entire club.
Burren Rangers
There is also a Junior Hurling Shield final between Carlow Town and Naomh Bríd at 12.30pm on Sunday in Netwatch Cullen Park.
