Precious points power Rathvilly

Rathvilly 2-9 Old Leighlin 1-10

An attendance of 3,500 saw the sides go in level at half-time – 2-3 to 1-6. But the challengers hit the ground running on the resumption with points from J J Smith, Diarmuid Cronin, Ed Finnegan and Gary Dempsey.

The final had exploded into action in a two minute period at the end of the opening quarter. Rathvilly’s JJ Smith saw his shot for goal brilliantly saved by Old Leighlin goalkeeper James Clarke, but the alert Diarmuid Cronin smashed the loose ball to the net.