J.J. Kavanagh & Son Senior Hurling Championship
Round Three
St. Mullins 3-14
Erins Own 1-12
At Netwatch Cullen Park
By John Whelan
St. Mullins sent out a reminder to the rest of the contenders in this year’s championship that they are county champions; although they didn’t have it all their own way they turned on the style in impressive fashion in the closing ten minutes of the game, shooting 1-10 as Erins Own failed to register a score in that time.
Martin Kavanagh raised the first flag when he converted a free after just eighty seconds to give the St. Mullins men the lead. John Rogers cancelled it out with a free of his own on seven minutes before James Doyle reclaimed the lead for St. Mullins on nine minutes. In the aftermath St. Mullins got on top again and if it wasn’t for a brave block from Alan Corcoran, Martin Kavanagh would have shook the back of the net for St. Mullins.
John Rogers added a ‘65’ to his earlier free to level the sides on twelve minutes. The St Mullins clearance from the puck out was blocked and Andrew Beaton capitalised on the mistake and put the ball over the bar to give Erins Own the lead. Craig Doyle doubled the lead with a free from around the fifty metre mark. Not confined to his defensive prowess Alan Corcoran tacked on a score to put Erins Own three clear on seventeen minutes.
Martin Kavanagh responded with what was St. Mullins’ first score in ten minutes. Martin Kavanagh then put St. Mullins into the lead when he rattled the back of the net after a James Doyle pass. Doyle got a fine score himself from over fifty five metres. St. Mullins had Kevin Kehoe to thank when he pulled off a vital save to prevent Craig Doyle from scoring; it kept St. Mullins in control. An Eoin Minchin shot was deflected over the bar by Kevin Kehoe to bring Erins Own back within one. John Murphy instantly replied with a point as the game headed for half time. Craig Doyle converted a free just before the half time whistle; it was St. Mullins 1-5 Erins Own 0-7 at the break.
Neither side could grab a hold of the game in the early going of the second half but James Geoghegan opened the scoring to level the sides on thirty eight minutes. St. Mullins had the perfect response in the form of a James Doyle goal. Craig Doyle did add a free to reduce the deficit to two. Doyle reduced it to one on forty three minutes before Jack Kavanagh restored the lead to two.
Erins Own sprung to life when Brian Doyle blasted the ball past Kevin Kehoe to take the lead with fifteen left to play. James Doyle and Alan Whelan exchanged points before Craig Doyle’s free put Erins Own two points clear. It would be Erins Own last score as St. Mullins kicked into a higher gear.
Martin Kavanagh started the purple patch for St. Mullins with a point. James Doyle added another two minutes later, Martin Kavanagh tacked on a free immediately before Paudie Kehoe converted a
free from inside his own half. James Doyle put the tie beyond on any doubt with five remaining when he stuck the ball in the Erins Own net. John Murphy kept the scoreboard ticking with a score followed by another from Martin Kavanagh. James Doyle capped off a fine performance in stoppage time with a score to give St. Mullins an impressive 3-14 to 1-12 victory and to see his tally be finalised at 2-7.
St. Mullins
Kevin Kehoe, Paul Kehoe, John Doran, Gary Bennett, Jack Kavanagh(0-1), Paudie Kehoe(0-1, 1f), Ger Coady, Darren Whelan, Michael Walsh, Philip Connors, James Doyle(2-7), Martin Kavanagh(1-5, 2f), John Walsh, John Murphy(0-2), Peter Fortune SUBS: James Curran, Peter Kavanagh, Michael Kehoe, Thomas Coady, Seamus Murphy, Oisin Boland( in for P Fortune 59 mins), John Murphy, Paddy Doyle, Shaun Gahan, John Murphy, Gavin Connolly, Jamie McDonald, Pat Fenlon, Alex Doyle( in for P Connors 36 mins)
Erins Own
Jack Barron, Martin Cummins, Dermot Somers, Thomas Maher, Trevor Nolan, John Rogers(0-2, 1f 1,’65’), Alan Corcoran(0-1), James Geoghegan, Mark McDonald, Craig Doyle(0-2, 2f), Eoin Minchin(0-1), Brian Doyle, Alan Whelan, David Miley, Andrew Beaton(0-1) SUBS: Dessie Dowling, John Kelly, David Corcoran, Ronan Minchin, David Kennedy( in for J Geoghegan 55 mins) , Andrew Casey, Patrick Abbey, Dylan Nolan, Gary Monaghan, Jason Shinners, Conor Lennon, Mickey Walsh, James Doyle,