Late Marty Kavanagh goal earns St Mullins replay with Mount Leinster Rangers in Carlow SHC final

Kavanagh's goal was as good as any in his long career.

MAGIC MARTY: A late, late goal from Carlow intercounty player, Marty Kavanagh, tied the scores in the final seconds of injury time to rescue St Mullins in the Carlow senior hurling final.

Carlow senior hurling championship final

Mount Leinster Rangers 2-19 St Mullins 3-16

The sides will have to do it all again after a late, late goal from Carlow intercounty player, Marty Kavanagh, tied the scores in the final seconds of injury time to rescue St Mullins in the Carlow senior hurling final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

There was an explosive start to the contest when Ciarain Kavanagh swooped for a Mount Leinster Rangers goal right from the throw-in.

The reigning champions continued to press and led 1-4 to 0-1 after eight minutes. Donagh Murphy was proving to be a handful for the St Mullins defence with the former St Kieran’s All-Ireland medal winner very much in form.

It was all action and at one stage Rangers led by seven points. The tide turned in the closing stages of the half with another intercounty star, Jack Kavanagh, netting from long distance. James Doyle passed up on an excellent Mullins goal chance.

From the edge of the small square he mishit his shot and the sliotar fell nicely for Dean Grennan in the Rangers goal who easily took control of the hopping ball.

Rangers had their moments too and Eddie Byrne was on hand to rifle home from the edge of the small square. There was no end to the drama and once again Kavanagh fired to the bottom right hand corner of the Rangers net.

Right on the whistle, Kavanagh’s brother, Marty, took the scoring pass and raised a white flag to leave Rangers only leading 2-9 to 2-7 at the interval.

It turned out to be an epic second half. Rangers threatened to pull away but just as they did in the opening half, St Mullins dug in.

At one point it looked as if St Mullins were winning the mini battles but Rangers hit back and it was they who looked set to take the momentum. Murphy added two points while Byrne was also on target. 

In reply, James Doyle registered three points for Mullins while Conor Kehoe and Jason O’Neill were also on the mark for the challengers.

Some of the scores were out of the top bracket. With the TG4 cameras present the county players on both sides put on an exhibition of point scoring. Tony Lawlor’s point from inside his own half looked to be a huge momentum turner.

In reply, James Doyle’s point was vital for St Mullins as Rangers looked to be taking a significant lead when Chris Nolan and Joyce knocked over points to put the champions four clear.

Then came the late revival with Kavanagh as the central figure. He had already missed two frees but he held his nerve to convert one and his goal strike was as good as any in his long career.

Scorers for Mount Leinster Rangers: T Joyce (0-7, 4fs), E Byrne (1-2), C Kavanagh (1-0), D Murphy (0-4), J Nolan (0-3), C Nolan, T Lawlor, K McDonald (f) (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Mullins: M Kavanagh (1-8, 5fs), J Kavanagh (2-0), James Doyle (0-6), C Kehoe, J O’Neill (0-1 each).

MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS: D Grennan; M Doyle, M Joyce, S Joyce; E Kealy, K McDonald, T Lawlor; R Coady, J Nolan; D Tobin, T Joyce, D Murphy; C Kavanagh, E Byrne, C Nolan.

Subs: C Fitzpatrick for Kavanagh (h/t), D Byrne for Tobin (49).

ST MULLINS: K Kehoe; P O’Shea, P Doyle, J Doran; G Coady, M Walsh, P Kehoe; E O’Shea, C Harris; J Kavanagh, James Doyle (Dranagh), C Kehoe; M Kavanagh, John Doyle, P Boland.

Subs: O Ryan for Doran (21), J O’Neill for Harris (h/t), S Murphy for Ryan (55).

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Palatine).