Rangers to face Mullins in final

Reigning champions Mount Leinster Rangers and neighbours St Mullins will contest this season’s Carlow SHC final.

In Dr Cullen Park yesterday, the holders had to survive a tremendous first quarter onslaught from a young Ballinkillen side before coming through 1-15 to 1-10. Three points in the opening seven minutes by inter-county player, Andrew Gaul, helped Ballinkillen into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

Rangers dug in and aA crucial goal arrived on 23 minutes when Hugh Paddy O’Byrne plucked the sliotar down and with a shimmy created the space to shoot home a goal. At half-time Rangers led 1-7 to 0-6 but while the challengers did come within a point of the eventual winners, Denis Murphy’s haul of nine points saw the pre-match favourites through. Darren Dalton scored a late consolation goal for Ballinkillen.

Earlier Kevin Foley’s first-half goal saw Naomh Eoin lead St Mullins 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time in their clash.

A flood of scores by the two Kavanagh brothers helped St Mullins surge ahead in the second half. Jack hit 1-5 from play while Marty raised eight white flags from play and placed balls. With less than 10 minutes left, St Mullins led by eight points but a goal by John Michael Nolan and a late onslaught of points narrowed the gap to two points. Time eventually ran out and St Mullins came through by 2-14 to 2-11.