Mount Leinster Rangers 0-11
Naomh Eoin 2-4
Reigning senior hurling champions, Mount Leinster Rangers, had to survive anxious moments, and soak up strong pressure in the closing moments from Naomh Eoin before they got their ticket to the Talbot Hotel senior hurling final. This was a lively semi-final at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday.
Rangers made all the early running in the opening half and were three points in credit after seven minutes, courtesy of two Michael Ralph frees and James Hickey from play. Pauric Nolan opened Naomh Eoin’s account with a pointed free a minute later. This was Naomh Eoin’s only point in the opening half.
Michael Ralph and Derek Byrne, moved the Rangers’ men four points clear by the twentieth minute 0-5 to 0-1. Then the game came to life when Naomh Eoin’s Brian ‘Black’ Murphy broke inside of the defence and shot the ball past Frank Foley in the Rangers’ goal, and suddenly only a point separated the sides 0-5 to 1-1. Rangers responded with two points from Dennis Murphy and Michael Ralph as they led by three points at half time- Mount Leinster Rangers 0-7, Naomh Eoin 1-1.
In a lively first half, the talking points around the ground, was how it was a long time since Naomh Eoin were held to two scores at half time, and Gary Doyle’s display at full back as he denied Naomh Eoin attacks time and time again. The hurling was of a high standard, although it was the defences on either side who were dominant.
Rangers had the silverware in their dressing room adorned in red and black, determined that it would go back home. Naomh Eoin were determined that it be left in headquarters for a further week.
Naomh Eoin raised the bar on the restart. Brian ‘Red’ Murphy won a good ball and his shot for goal was blocked down, he regained possession and got inside two defenders and kicked the sliothar to the Rangers’ net and the game was level. Mount Leinster Rangers 0-7, Naomh Eoin 2-1. Rangers responded with a Michael Ralph free as he restored the lead, they now displayed excellent, end-to-end hurling. There were some great duels at midfield, between Michael Mullins and James Hickey and Damian Roberts and David Phelan, with James Hickey power housing the Mount Leinster Rangers’ men.
Naomh Eoin had their best period in the last ten minutes as Robbie Foley levelled from play and the same player gave the Myshall men the lead for the first time in the game Naomh Eoin 2-3, Mount Leinster Rangers 0-8.
The champions responded to the challenge as Edward Coady levelled the sides for a third time, with a long-range point from play. Nine minutes remaining and Michael Ralph with a point from a placed ball regained the lead. At the other end Naomh Eoin saw two shots for minor scores go at the wrong side of the posts. Michael Ralph with a well struck ’65 put two points between the sides coming into the closing minutes for a grandstand finish. The challengers mounted an all out attack, Damian Roberts narrowed the gap to the minimum and this was their last score, the same player saw a line ball go wide for the equaliser. Gary Doyle, Edward Coady, Hugh Paddy O’Byrne and Brian Nolan defended with all their might as they held off the huge Naomh Eoin force. Robbie Foley made one last attempt at a score but the whistle was sounded and Mount Leinster Rangers were in their third successive final.
This was a championship performance from the winners. Gary Doyle was outstanding at full back as he denied the opposition certain scores at vital times, add in Hugh Paddy O’Byrne, Brian Nolan captain Edward Coady and Padraig Nolan and it was a solid defence. James Hickey won a lot of ball at midfield and drove forward all the time uplifting his side along the way. In the forwards David Phelan, Dennis Murphy, John Coady and Derek Byrne played very well. Willie Hickey had some nice touches and good distribution. Michael Ralph was excellent, scoring seven pointed frees. Mount Leinster Rangers were unlucky to lose Richard Coady with a re-occurring injury. However, Edward Byrne when introduced was a livewire, as was Killian Griffith.
Edmond Spruhan kept a clean sheet in goal. Antony Keogh. Eoin Nolan and James O’Hara in the full back line kept their lines cleared. Dwaine Kavanagh, Shane Kavanagh and Trevor Minchin in the second half hurled defiantly. Michael Mullins and Damian Roberts tried to turn the tide at midfield. In the forward line Robert Foley, Red Brian Murphy Black Brian Murphy and Joe Waters when introduced, did their best to fashion a win as did Seamus Smithers and Des Murphy. Denny Joe Regan battled hard when he came on.
Teams:
Mount Leinster Rangers:
Frank Foley, Tomas Murphy, Gary Doyle, Hugh Paddy O’Byrne, Edward Coady 0-1, Brian Nolan, Padraig Nolan, James Hickey 0-1, David Phelan, Dennis Murphy 0-1, Derek Byrne 0-1, Michael Ralph 0-7 (frees ), John Coady, Willie Hickey, Richard Coady.
Substitutes: Edward Byrne for Richard Coady (injured ), Killian Griffith for Tomas Murphy.
Naomh Eoin: Edmond Spruhan, Antony Keogh, Eoin Nolan, James O’Hara, Trevor Minchin, Shane Kavanagh, Dwaine Kavanagh, Damian Roberts 0-1, Michael Mullins, Seamus Smithers, Robert Foley 0-2, Pauric Nolan 0-1 (free ), Brian ‘Red’ Murphy 1-0,
Des Murphy, Brian ‘Black’ Murphy (1-0 ). Substitutes: Joe Waters for Des Murphy, Kevin Foley for Brian ‘Black’ Murphy, Denny Joe Regan for Seamus Smithers.
Referee: Pat Ahern.
