Mullinavat hold on to secure Under 21 C Hurling crown

UPMC Nowlan Park was the venue for a southern derby encounter when neighbours Kilmacow and Mullinavat contested the U-21C county final on the 3rd December last. 

It was a cool, crisp, dry December day with not a puff of wind.  Both teams got off to a shaky start with a combined 11 points in the first half, of which only four came from open play but the second half was a different affair as the sides battled it out to the final whistle. 

Mullinavat led from the start but the Kilmacow men drew level on a couple of occasions and looked to send the game to extra time scoring 1-3 without reply in the last four minutes of the game.  However, Mullinavat never relinquished their lead and held on to secure their first U-21 title since 2013 by the slimmest of margins, Mullinavat 2-13, Kilmacow 1-15.

Mullinavat’s free-taker and top scorer on the day, George O’Connor opened the afternoon’s scoring from a placed ball in the second minute.

Mullinavat looked to set down a marker minutes later as corner forward Conor Power, dangerous throughout, headed for goal but a superb hook and some great defending from Kilmacow cleared the danger. 

Unfortunately, Kilmacow lost their fullback, Dev Lowe, to injury during that passage of play.  George followed up with another converted free in the seventh minute.  

Kilmacow got off the mark with a converted free from Sean Dowling in the 11th minute.

 Mullinavat’s Michael Walsh took a short puckout in the 12th minute and dropped the ball in to Donnchadh Walsh – Donnchadh was tackled on his way through but George O’Connor picked up the loose ball and sent it over the bar. 

Both Sean Dowling (x2) and George O’Connor were called upon again and they duly pointed from placed balls. 

In the 23rd minute, Kilmacow’s Jack O’Neill bore down on goal – James O’Keeffe came off his line which allowed Jack to bat the ball over his head – however it was cleared down field but only as far as Kilmacow wing back Sean Blanchfield who scored his side’s first point from play in the 24th minute to level the game.

Mullinavat closed out the half with two more from George O’Connor, one from a Robin Davis pass and the second from a converted free and one from Conor Walsh who took a pass from Peter McDonald who put in a solid performance. 

The scoreboard in the first half certainly wasn’t reflective of how competitive the sides were as they went in at the break Mullinavat 0-7 Kilmacow 0-4.

George O’Connor scored another from a converted free to open the second half scoring but Kilmacow were improving and were the better team in the first quarter. 

Kilmacow’s James Walsh capitalised on a misdirected Mullinavat pass and sent the ball over the posts.  This was followed by a Fergal Suffin point when Fergal won a Mullinavat puckout and sent the ball straight back and over the bar. 

Keith Butler popped one over from a close range free in the 41st minute and only a point separated the sides at this stage. 

Moments later, Conor Walsh added to his tally but two from Sean Dowling, one from a placed ball, levelled the sides with 15 minutes to go.

Mullinavat dominated the next 10 minutes scoring 2-4 to Kilmacow’s 0-3.

In the 46th minute, Conor Power’s hard work and speed paid off as he ran down a loose ball near the endline and kept it in play – he took possession and offloaded to Conor Walsh on the edge of the square who buried the ball to the back of the net. 

All three of Kilmacow’s points in this period came from Sean Dowling, two from play, with assists from Jack O’Neill.

Shane Aylward pointed in the 47th minute following a layoff from Robin Davis.  George O’Connor, steady as ever, converted a free in the 49th minute and Conor Walsh followed up with a point from a long delivery from substitute Luke Byrne Doyle.  

Mullinavat captain Padraig Dempsey had a great game and rallied his side as he sent a high ball in to his full forward line. 

Conor Walsh’s strike was batted away by Kieran Dowling but only as far as George O’Connor whose strike was unstoppable. 

Substitute CJ Fitzpatrick scored in the 25th minute, again assisted by captain Padraig Dempsey.

With a seven point lead and five minutes of normal time remaining, Mullinavat looked to be home and dry but Kilmacow refused to give up the fight. 

Captain Patrick Dollard score two points within a minute.  A pass from substitute Fionn Blanche to Fergal Suffin on the 60 minute mark was saved by James O’Keeffe but the rebound was put away by Keith Butler, giving his side hope in the dying minutes. 

However, Sean Dowling’s converted free in the 62nd minute would be the final score of the game as Mullinavat held on to claim victory and the U-21C title.  FT Kilmacow 1-15, Mullinavat 2-13.

Mullinavat: James O’Keeffe, Patrick Walshe, David Maher, Eoin Dempsey, Michael Walsh, Padraig Dempsey (capt), Peter McDonald, Ian Mansfield, Robin Davis (vice capt), Donnchadh Walsh, George O’Connor (1-8, 0-6f), Fiachra Knox, Conor Power, Conor Walsh (1-3), Shane Aylward (0-1).  Subs:. CJ Fitzpatrick (0-1), Luke Byrne Doyle, Cormac McEvoy.

Kilmacow: Kieran Dowling, Donncha Williams, Dev Lowe, Paddy Regan, Sean Blanchfield (0-1), Brian O’Mara, Liam Lacey, Tadgh Connolly, Fergal Suffin (0-1), Sean Dowling (0-9, 0-6f), Tom Butler, James Walsh (0-1), Patrick Dollard (capt) (0-2), Keith Butler (1-1, 0-1f), Jack O’Neill.  Subs: Tom Costelloe, Josh Maher Mate, Calum Regan, Fionn Blanche.

Referee: Maurice Flynn (Mooncoin)