St Mullin’s 2-17
Rathdowney-Errill 1-19
Alan Hartnett reports from Netwatch Cullen Park
JAMES DOYLE WAS the St Mullin’s hero as he scored two magnificent points in injury time to put the Carlow champions through to the Leinster hurling final for the first time in their history.
They become just the second-ever team from the county after Mount Leinster to reach the provincial showpiece and they will face Ballyhale Shamrocks in the final in two weeks’ time.
This was a game that swung one way and then the other for the course of the 60 minutes and Laois champions Rathdowney-Errill, who were also seeking to reach the final for the first time, thought they had done enough when sub Shane Madden gave them the lead as two minutes of injury time were signalled.
However, St Mullin’s had other ideas and Doyle scored two wonderful individual points to see them through.
It looked for a long time like it would be a battle of the two Kavanaghs as Rathdowney-Errill’s Mark and St Mullin’s Marty engaged in a point swapping fest for much of the game.
Mark ended the game with twelve points while Marty scored 1-9 and his goal, which came in the first half, was followed by another from Paddy Boland.
Paddy Purcell got Rathdowney-Errill’s only goal in the opening period, too, and that helped them to a 1-10 to 2-6 lead at the interval.
St Mullin’s began the second half with four points in three minutes and they held onto that lead right to the end of normal time where they fell behind before Doyle worked his magic.
Rathdowney-Errill did have a late chance to force extra time but Joe McDonagh Player of the Year Paddy Purcell blazed a shot wide with the final puck of the game.
Scorers for Rathdowney-Errill: Mark Kavanagh 0-12 (0-7f, 0-1 65), Paddy Purcell 1-1, Ross King 0-2, James Ryan, Jack Ryan, Paddy McCane and Shane Madden 0-1 each
Scorers for St Mullins: Marty Kavanagh 1-9 (0-7f), James Doyle 0-5, Paddy Boland 1-0, Seamus Murphy 0-2, Jason O’Neill 0-1
RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL
1. Damien Madden
2. Jimmy Corrigan
3. Brian Campion
4. John Purcell
5. Joe Fitzpatrick
6. Jack Kelly
7. Eric Killeen
8. John Keane
9. Paddy Purcell
10. James Ryan
12. Shane Dollard
11. Mark Kavanagh
13. Paddy McCane
14. Ross King
15. Brandon McGinley
Subs
20. Kevin O’Dea for Keane (40)
19. Shane Madden for Dollard (45)
17. Ray Bowe for McGinley (51)
ST MULLINS
1. Kevin Kehoe
2. John Doran
3. Paul Doyle
4. Garry Bennett
5. Chris Kavanagh
6. Ger Coady
7. Oisin Boland
8. Mick Walsh
9. Jack Kavanagh
10. Seamus Murphy
11. Marty Kavanagh
12. Paddy Walsh
13. Jason O’Neill
14. James Doyle
15. Paddy Boland.
Subs
17. Philly Connors for Walsh (40)
Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)
Fine margins. If the ref had not allowed an extra play, Cork would have been All-Ireland champs in 2013. The 2013 CLare vintage, re-discovered their pulse against KIlkenny last Sunday. Yet Tipperary probobly should have beaten them in Ennis. For the want of a solitary point, many a team perishes. For all the tactics and amazing players, luck plays a huge part also.
Very true Eddie, particularly for knock out cup competitions such as the all ireland, which suggests the league is prob a better gauge of strength in depth of a team over time
Awh ye, blame the poor auld ref lol.. match is never over till the whistle is blown eddie. Anyway we proved who were the real masters in da replay
I’d love a sitcom based on the Cork county board. Frank as a Basil Fawlty type figure
Unfair on poor Basil !
Cork could have been competitive for a few more years instead fading quickly after 06
If my auntie had liathroidi she’d be my uncle
Donal Og will get his day in the spotlight this summer. All the shitalk he has been spooning the Cork public and the country in general will be back to haunt him when Clare’s tactics get exposed under pressure.
A bullshit artist of the highest calibre
Jeez the begrudgery is strong in this one, the man was a very good communicator and analyst on tv, and he now seems to have contributed positively to a previously poisonous team, deal with it
Rebels? The only rebel they ever had they shot him!
Looks like your a bit of a historian there Vinny and i suppose you know who shot him too?? you little bolox!!!