Stars shine brightly as St Mullins win the phony war
Michael Doyle (Mount Leinster Rangers) is unable to halt Marty Kavanagh from scoring his first goal of the game Photo: Pat Ahern
Four first half goals saw champions St Mullins land the psychological blow of a win over their great rivals Mount Leinster Rangers but this game always had the feeling that this pair know they will most likely have to meet again in this year’s Championship with much more on the line.
At times, it had the feel of the Hurling For Cancer exhibition game that will be played in Netwatch Cullen Park for the third time next month.
With both sides already assured of their place in the semi-finals, this game was played without the usual intensity that you would expect from a Championship clash between the pair and the star players reveled in the extra space allowed.
Marty Kavanagh (2-7) and James Doyle (1-3), along with Paddy Boland (2-1) were irresistible in a fast moving and fluid St Mullins attack, while at the other end Chris Nolan (1-11) could hardly have done any more to drag his team into the game.
Boland scored the first goal of the game after eight minutes after being set up by a touch of James Doyle’s hurl that couldn’t have been any sweeter if was covered in sugar.
Doyle was the provider again four minutes later when he set up Marty Kavanagh, who stepped inside his marker before lashing his shot into the roof of the Rangers’ net.
There was spell of three points in a row just after the 20 minute that highlighted the quality of the three best players on the pitch. Marty Kavanagh somehow hooked a shot over his shoulder and over the bar when there were two Rangers defenders forcing him towards the sideline. Nolan answered back at the far end with a near identical point and then Doyle completed the trio of tremendous scores with a long range effort.
Shortly after, Doyle took advantage of a slack hand pass out of the Rangers’ defence by pouncing and scoring the third goal of the opening half in the 25th minute.
St Mullins got their fourth goal in the final minute of the half when Doyle’s shot struck the upright and that lethal goal poacher Boland was waiting for the rebound and hit the net for the second time.
They led 4-10 to 0-9 at half time and were guilty of taking their foot off the pedal a little after the break.
The competitive spirit within the two teams came to the surface on occasion during the second half and referee Paud O'Dywer, who recovered from being struck by the ball early in the game, had cause to brandish two yellow cards to opposing players twice in quick succession following a brace of minor flash points.
The sides were quickly back to concentrating on the game at hand and Nolan, Rangers’ best play by quite a distance, scored a consolation goal in the 55th minute.
That wasn’t the last of the goals however and there was another display of quality from Kavanagh as the game moved into injury time when he skipped away from the Rangers defence before firing past Dean Grennan.
The only black mark on the game for St Mullins were injuries to two starting defenders, Ciaran Harris and James Doyle (Drummond) and Tommy Buggy will be hoping that they don’t prove too serious.
It would be a major surprise if this was the last Championship meeting between the teams this season, although Naomh Eoin and Ballinkillen might say different, and there will be a completely different feel to the game if they are to meet again.
M Kavanagh 2-7 (4fs), P Boland 2-1, James Doyle (Dranagh) 1-3, E O’Shea 0-1, G Coady 0-1, John Doyle 0-1.
C Nolan 1-11 (6fs, 1’65), F Fitzpatrick 0-2, E Byrne 0-2, D Tobin 0-1, T Joyce 0-1, J Nolan 0-1.
Seamus Murphy; Paidi O’Shea, Paul Doyle, Ciaran Harris, Ger Coady, Paido Kehoe, James Doyle (Drummond); Eamonn O’Shea, Oisin Boland; Conor Kehoe, James Doyle (Dranagh), John Doyle, Colm Kavanagh, Marty Kavanagh, Paddy Boland. Subs: Laurence Brennan for Harris, 16; Oisin Ryan for C Kavanagh, 37; Cathal Connolly for Doyle (Drummond), 45.
Dean Grennan; Michael Doyle, Diarmuid Byrne, Sean Joyce. Richard Coady, Jon Nolan, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Tim Brennan, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Ted Joyce, Eoin Doyle, Dean Tobin, Joe Dundon, Edward Byrne, Chris Nolan. Subs: Evan Kealy for E Doyle, h/t; Michael Malone for Dundon, 48; Michael Joyce for M Doyle, 58.
Paud O'Dwyer.
