Mullinavat win Kilkenny minor football A final
Mullinavat: Roinn A Football Champions 2009. Back row (from left): Daniel Davis, Michael Kent, Brian Power, Ian Duggan, James Culleton (Capt.), Joseph Fennelly, Thomas Aylward, Darren Kenneally, Darren Waters, Mossy Jones. Front row: Mark Mansfield, Ger Malone, Ciarán Boyle, Mark McDonald, Simon Aylward, Andrew Delahunty, Padraic Gahan, James Dalton, Robert Malone, and Pat Mulhearn.
Mullinavat 3-12; Thomastown 2-6
Mullinavat’s minor footballers collected the Kilkenny Citroen Centre MFC Roinn A title when they defeated a gallant Thomastown team in this final, played in poor conditions in Mullinavat on Saturday. In doing so they completed a notable double, having won the Roinn B title last year. Ballyhale was the original venue, but when the teams arrived here the pitch was declared unplayable and so after a toss the game was switched to Mullinavat. Both sides deserve great credit for serving up a good competitive game in difficult conditions. Mullinavat were the better team throughout, but Thomastown battled all the way and it was only in the final minutes that Mullinavat put the match beyond the reach of their opponents.
Mullinavat began brightly and by the fifth minute they had 1-2 to their credit, with Mossy Jones scoring 1-1 and Ian Duggan 0-1 (free). Thomastown got off the mark in the ninth minute when Robert Skehan pointed a free. Mark Sheehan added a point in the 12th minute but Mullinavat replied with a pointed free from Ian Duggan. Mullinavat were beginning to put some lovely passages of play together and in the 15th minute a fine interchange of passes from Ian Duggan and James Culleton put Mark Mansfield through and he blasted the ball to the net to put Mullinavat in the driving seat. Back came Thomastown and “Tucker” O’Hanrahan scored a good point to give his side a lift. Mullinavat were in control though, and added three more points from play, two from Ian Duggan, and a fine effort from Brian Power. The final score of the half came from Tucker Hanrahan with a pointed free in the 27th minute. So when referee Willie Kearney blew for half time Mullinavat had a commanding lead 2-6 to 0-4.
Thomastown came out in determined fashion and right from the restart they went on the offensive. Their pressure paid off within six minutes when Barry Whelan was quickest to react to a breaking ball in the Mullinavat goalmouth and buried the ball in the net. Two minutes later they added a second goal when Robert Skehan coolly slotted home a penalty. Mullinavat’s lead was now down to two points and it was game on. However, the Mullinavat boys regrouped and moved James Culleton from full-forward to midfield where he began to win a huge amount of possession. Mossy Jones got Mullinavat on the scoreboard in the tenth minute and Brian Power added another soon after. Ian Duggan pointed midway through the second half as gradually Mullinavat began to reassert themselves. Thomastown were not done with, however, and Robert Skehan scored an excellent point to keep their hopes alive. Mullinavat were not going to let their opponents back and added three more points from Brian Power, Mark Mansfield and Ian Duggan to give themselves some breathing space. In the final minute Brian Power added the final score when he found the net to put the issue beyond doubt. Best for a battling Thomastown team were Philip Moore and James Hoyne in defence, Brian Murphy in midfield, and Robert Skehan and Tucker O’Hanrahan in attack. For Mullinavat, Padraig Gahan was a commanding figure in defence while up front Brian Power, Mossy Jones, Ian Duggan and James Culleton were excellent.
Scorers: Mullinavat: Mossy Jones (1-3), Ian Duggan (0-6, 0-2 frees), Brian Power (1-2), Mark Mansfield (1-1).
Thomastown: Robert Skehan (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free), Barry Whelan (1-0), Thomas (Tucker) O’Hanrahan (0-2, 0-1 free), Mark Sheehan (0-2).
Mullinavat: Mark McDonald, Michael Kent, Andrew Delahunty, Ger Malone, Daniel Davis, Padraig Gahan, Simon Aylward, Joseph Fennelly, Brian Power, Mark Mansfield, Ian Duggan, Thomas Aylward, Ciarán Boyle, James Culleton, Mossy Jones. Subs: James Dalton, Pat Mulhearn, Darren Kenneally, Darren Waters, Robert Malone.
Thomastown: Conor Skehan, Daniel O’Donnell, Philip Moore, Sean Farrell, Stephen Connolly, James Hoyne, Robert O’Hara, Brian Murphy, David Gaule, Robert Skehan, Mark Sheehan, Thomas O’Hanrahan, John Fitzgerald, Robert Waugh, Mattheus Fernandez. Subs: Barry Whelan, Robert O’Hanrahan, Eoin Manning, Gary Lehane, Kevin Butler.
Referee: Willie Kearney (Dunnamaggin)