First SHC title for Mullinahone

Mullinahone 2-10 Thurles Sarsfields 1-11

In what was a highly-charged final replay watched by a crowd of 10,905, Mullinahone, inspired by the spectacular scoring of the mercurial Eoin Kelly, turned a first-half deficit of seven points into an historic two-point triumph.

And so the long famine, extending back to 1974, continues for one of Ireland's most celebrated clubs, allied to the fact that they now also have the unpalatable distinction of losing three county finals on the trot. This had never happened before.

The famous Blues were devastated and rightly so. They had the tag of match-winners written all over them in the opening 20 minutes when they swept aside a most inept and unfocused Mullinahone team.

Rearranging their attack from the drawn game and introducing Johnny Enright from the start, Thurles, with the aid of a slight wind, looked like taking their opponents to the cleaners in the opening sequences.

Enright, showing no ill-effects of a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for months, rifled over some great points, from play and frees.

Ger O'Grady added two more magnificent scores as Thurles scorched into a most comprehensive and thoroughly thrilling seven-point lead after 23 minutes of play.

Thurles were in control all over the park, and Mullinahone, who had victory snatched from their grasp the previous Sunday, appeared to be very much on the receiving end of an apparent war of attrition.

They were a few unseemly incidents early, chiefly involving the enigmatic John Leahy, as Mullinahone inexplicably lost their composure and threatened ominously to press the self-destruct button.

But then came the most decisive moment of the match. Leahy hit a high ball into the sun-lit Thurles square. Thurles failed to clear their lines and Kelly, like the great poacher that he is, was in, quick as a flash, to score the goal that turned this game on its head.

Kelly, who had missed four rather easy chances of points from play and frees, then converted a '65 to leave it 0-9 to 1-3 in Thurles's favour at half time.

His crucial late strikes before the interval break were to have a profound effect on the see-sawing proceedings

because subsequently, Thurles lost their way, while Mullinahone, and Kelly in particular, grew in stature from here on in.

What a performance the most exciting talent Tipperary hurling has produced in recent times served up after the resumption, as Thurles folded and Mullinahone roared into ascendency.

First, he hit a cracking free to the net from 20 metres within a minute of the restart. As Thurles were forced to stand idly by, Kelly hit them from all angles with a superlative display of long-range free-taking. He hit one over the bar from all of 110 metres, a herculeon feat.

He ended the game with 2-7 to his credit, all but three points of his history-making team's final tally. He was the star on the day that Mullinahone achieved their life ambition.

Due to Kelly's deeds, Mullinahone changed the script of this game and from seven points down, led by five entering the closing quarter.

Thurles, knocked completely out of their stride by the manner in which Mullinahone overturned their

apple-cart, did receive a much-needed lifeline however, 14 minutes from the end, when O'Grady slammed home a goal from a penalty to leave just two points between them.

To their credit, Thurles manfully tried to conjure up another life-saving exercise near the end, but Mullinahone held on to record a famous victory. One that is sure to be celebrated for many a long day to come.

Scorers Mullinahone: E. Kelly 2-7 (1-5 frees; 0-1 '65); P. Croke 0-2 (0-1 free); J. Leahy 0-1.

Thurles Sarsfields: G. O'Grady 1-2 (1-0 penalty); J. Enright 0-6 (0-5 frees); M. O'Dowd, T. Ruth, P. Lawlor 0-1 each.

MULLINAHONE: V. Doheny; D. Hackett, P. Curran, T. Dalton; K. Vaughan, E. O'Brien, P. O'Shea; B. O'Meara, N. Curran; C. Arrigan, J. Leahy, J. Maher; P. Croke, N. Leahy, E. Kelly. Subs: J.

Maher for N. Leahy; E. O'Meara for Carey, P. Kelly for Arrigan.

THURLES SARSFIELDS: C. Carroll; S. O'Shea, T. Maher, G. Mernagh; J Lawlor, B. Carrol, J. Lillis; C. McIntyre, E. Enright; M. O'Dowd, L. Corbett, G. O'Grady; T. Ruth, P. Lawlor, J. Enright. Subs: B. O'Grady for J. Lawlor (blood substitution); Lawlor for O'Grady; E. Walsh for Ruth; E. Costello for P. Lawlor; S. Mason for McIntyre.

Referee: J. O'Donnell.