Liam Mellows rose to the occasion when it mattered most, overcoming a determined Rathnure side to win the OmniPro Minor Hurling Division 1 title at Samaritans St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.
Mellows’ strength lay in their depth. With scoring threats across the pitch, Rathnure could never single out one danger man, as others continually stepped up.
Rathnure, featuring five of their county Under-16 title-winning side from the previous week, showed plenty of promise and fight, but they met a Mellows team that simply refused to yield.
Liam Mellows started brightly, leading 0-3 to 0-1 through points from Ian Noctor, Kinsella and Conor Fanning. Rathnure hit back strongly as Callum O’Connell — who finished with 11 points — and Mikey Codd’s rocket to the net pushed them 1-5 to 0-5 ahead early in the second quarter.
But Mellows responded in style. Ben Morrissey’s goal-line clearance and a smart save from Mark Reddy kept them in touch before Emmet Slator set Ryan Murphy free, and he coolly flicked his shot to the net.
That strike turned the tide, and Mellows led 1-10 to 1-8 at half-time.
O’Connell opened the second half scoring, but Mellows took control from there. Slator landed a superb long-range point before Kinsella’s free into the square deflected off a defender and trickled over the line — the crucial blow that stretched the lead to 2-12 to 1-9 after 40 minutes.
Rathnure battled hard, narrowing the gap to three by the 48th minute, but Mellows held firm. Kinsella capped his fine display with another point in the 53rd minute, and despite some late pressure, Rathnure couldn’t find the goal they needed.
When the final whistle sounded, Liam Mellows were deserved champions — their teamwork, composure, and scoring power carrying them over the line.
Liam Mellows:
Jack Fanning; Rory Ahern, Liam Kenny, Odhran Morris; Emmet Slator (joint-capt., 0-1 ), Fionn Kavanagh, Brendan Noctor; Eoin Kinsella (1-4, 1-2 frees, 0-1 ’65 ), Cormac Doyle (0-2 ); Ian Noctor (0-2 ), Ryan Murphy (1-3 ), Ruadhan Cullen; Conor Fanning (joint-capt., 0-3, 1 free ), Niall Kavanagh, Cian Keating.
Subs: Jamie Maguire for Cullen (45 ). Also: Aidan Noctor, Sam Weekes, Kyle Fegan, Liam McNamara.
