Jubilant Lusmagh hold out for great win as brave Carrig-Riverstown fall away in second half

ONE of Offaly hurling's most cherished clubs and home to some of the county's greatest heroes, Lusmagh celebrated a return to top flight hurling when they produced the goods in the second half to see off a very stubborn, brave and honest Carrig-Riverstown side.

Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship final

Lusmagh 1-19

Carrig-Riverstown 0-19

In a real tight game that went down to the wire, Lusmagh scored a decisive 1-1 near half time to go in level after a first half in which they were second best after a flying start. Those scores gave them the confidence to push on in the second half as they outscored Carrig-Rivertsown by 0-12 to 0-9 for a three point win.

As expected, it was a closely fought game with very little separating the sides and there were different periods when each side looked like they would win. It was all very enjoyable with plenty of good hurling and over the course of the hour plus, Lusmagh were full value for their win.

Lusmagh made a flying start, hitting the ground with great intensity and pace as they stormed into a three point lead after four minutes, two of them from a flying Darren Healy.

They then began to hit wides and this was a problem for them in the first half as they recorded seven to just one from Carrig-Riverstown.

The decision to pick Cathal King at centre forward yielded dividends for C-R as he helped get them going, firing over two points in a run of five in a row as they took a 0-5 to 0-3 lead after 12 minutes.

It was 0-6 each after 22 minutes and C-R opened up a very nice looking four point gap with four in a row as it headed towards injury time.

Lusmagh struck for a late goal and a point to level it up at 1-7 to 0-10 at half time, the goal a point blank finish from Paul Kinsella after Luke Bowe sent him in.

With a tricky cross wind favouring C-R in the second half, it was still as wide open as it could be with both teams having equal prospects of victory.

Carrig-Riverstown got an early lead in the second half with a David Egan point but Lusmagh found a rich vein of form to take the initiative. They got four of the next five points, four of them from the outstanding Paul Kinsella, to lead by 1-12 to 0-12 after 39 minutes.

Carrig-Riverstown rallied brilliantly with four points on the trot, two from Willie Gleeson frees and one each from Lee Hogan and Mark O'Brien, to lead by 0-16 to 1-12 after 44 minutes. It was a sensational run by Carrig-Riverstown and Lusmagh did seriously well to turn the wide. Kinsella settled them with a crucial equalising free in the 46^th minute and then put them in front with a point from play.

C-R got on level terms twice after this but by now Lusmagh had the initiative, their heads up and spirits soaring. They were level with five minutes left and Lusmagh pushed for home spectacularly. C-R couldn't stop them running at them and four points in a row, from Darren Healy, Eibheann Kelly, Graham Lynch and Paul Kinsella – a free after he was deliberately pulled down by Thomas Hogan while trying to get in on goal – put them four ahead as it went into injury time.

Lusmagh lived on their wits late on, panicking a small bit and making mistakes. Mark O'Brien tapped over a free to bring it down to one score in the 61^st minute and C-R threw the kitchen sink at them. Cathal King won a 30 metre free in the 63^rd minute, Liam Hoare came up and launched a pile driver at the net. A hurl deflected it up in the air and in a frantic scramble, Lusmagh managed to get it out to the side and the final whistle blew to their delight.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paul Kinsella: Paul Kinsella is a fairly straightforward choice as man of the match. He was sensational, scoring 1-5 of his 1-10 from play. One of Lusmagh's most experienced players, he really stood up on the day and his contribution went way deeper than his scores. He won ball, came out to offer an option, set up scores and won frees. A great display by Kinsella and his second half tour-de-force will be long remembered in Lusmagh.

Ruari Kelly was brilliant early on, inspiring team mates with his surging runs and was very steady the whole way. He was so much better back in corner back than half back and his speed set the pulse racing while another experienced player, Eimhin Kelly deserves plenty of the plaudits. He had his hands full on Cathal King in the first half but did a lot of good work and was excellent in the second half, keeping King from cutting through and very good on the ball. Darren Healy was also outstanding, especially in the first half and he scored four points

A young emerging Carrig-Riverstown side can be very proud of the way they played here and all year. They have really come on and Cathal King led their charge superbly in the first half but wasn't as influential in the second half. Mark O'Brien scored well in their attack, Willie Gleeson took his frees very well. Conor Freeman, home from Dubai for the game, went very well in their attack at times but Lusmagh did deserve to win on the day.

THE SCORERS

Lusmagh: Paul Kinsella 1-10 (5f), Darren Healy 0-4, Eibheann Kelly and Shane Lanigan 0-2 each, Graham Lynch 0-1.

Carrig-Riverstown: Willie Gleeson 0-9 (9f), Mark O'Brien 0-4 (1f), Cathal King and David Egan 0-2 each, Conor Freeman and Lee Hogan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

LUSMAGH: Alan Kelly; Rory Quuinlan, Andy Flynn, Ruari Kelly; Lorcan Troy, Eimhin Kelly, Daire Temple; Eibheann Kelly, Graham Lynch; Eoin Quinlan, Darren Healy, Shane Lanigan; Paul Kinsella, Aaron Kelly, Luke Bowe. Subs – Daire Kelly for Lanigan (61m),

CARRIG-RIVERSTOWN: Liam Hoare; Thomas Hogan, Michael Fitzgerald, Caelum Larkin; Brendan Hoctor, Joe Hoctor, Timmy Carey; Peter King, Dylan Hogan; David Egan, Cathal King, Conor Freeman,; Andrew Coakley, Mark O’Brien, Willie Gleeson.  Subs – Lee Hogan for Coakley (HT), Patrick Bergin for Gleeson (60m),

Referee – Joey Deehan, Clara.

REFEREE WATCH

Joey Deehan refereed it well. He kept control of a good physical game and was consistent in the way he officiated.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Lusmagh supporters could be seen biting their nails when Liam Hoare went up to take his free deep in injury time. He struck it very well and the rebound could have ended up anywhere including the net but Lusmagh survived.

VENUE WATCH

Fair play to the Birr members who stayed away from Banagher and their Intermediate Hurling Championship final against Drumcullen to look after the teams and early arrivals for this final. Many others quickly made the journey to get back for the bulk of the crowd getting in and Birr were excellent hosts.

WHAT'S NEXT

Lusmagh go into the Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship.

STATISTICS

Wides: Lusmagh – 8 (7 in first half); Carrig-Riverstown – 4 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Carrig-Riverstown – 1 (Peter King); Lusmagh - 0

Red cards: 0.