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Mount Leinster's Michael Doyle and Gary Kelly celebrate after the game. INPHO/James Crombie
Upset

Carlow's Mount Leinster Rangers shock Ballyboden in Leinster semi-final

History was made at Dr Cullen Park today.

Mount Leinster Rangers 1-17
Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-9

A CARLOW CLUB will compete in the AIB Leinster club SHC final for the first time after Mount Leinster Rangers produced a huge shock to beat Ballyboden St Enda’s at Dr Cullen Park today.

This was only the third time the county had ever been represented in a semi-final, and with Ballyboden powered by six members of the Dublin panel that produced their own provincial heroics earlier this year, MLR were given no chance of prevailing.

They were completely deserving winners though and fought back well from the concession of first-half goals to Gavin Corrigan and Conor McCormack to go in trailing by just two points at half time, 2-7 to 0-11.

They used a sweeper very effectively in the second half and an Eddie Byrne sideline cut approaching the end of the third quarter brought them level.

James Owens awarded three penalties from that juncture, with two going to Ballyboden. Frank Foley saved Paul Ryan’s first effort and less than a minute later, Diarmuid Byrne found his brother Eddie in oceans of space. The result was a clinically-taken goal and MLR were ahead by 1-15 to 2-9.

Eight minutes from time, goalkeeper Gary Maguire inexplicably hit out at John Coady and received a straight red card. Denis Murphy opted to take a point from the resultant penalty and when he added a free to bring his tally to nine, the margin was five.

There was time for plenty more drama though and Ryan made no mistake when driving to the net from a penalty, awarded for a foul on McMorrow.

And McMorrow had a glorious opportunity to snatch it but Foley was quickly off his line to deflect his shot. History was not to be denied.

Scorers for Mount Leinster Rangers: D Murphy 0-9 (0-7f, 1 65, 1 pen), E Byrne 1-2, Derek Byrne 0-3, Diarmuid Byrne (0-1 sideline), P Coady, J Coady 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), C McCormack 1-2, G Corrigan 1-1, C Keaney, F McGarry 0-1 each.

MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS: F Foley, G Kelly, G Doyle, M Doyle, Diarmuid Byrne, R Coady, Derek Byrne, E Coady, P Nolan, P Coady, E Byrne, D Phelan, D Murphy, J Coady, E Doyle.

Subs: HP O’Byrne for Phelan (38); W Hickey for J Coady (57)

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire, S O’Connor, D Curran, M Travers, S Hiney, T Sweeney, C Robinson, S Durkin, N McMorrow, C Keaney, D Curtin, C McCormack, G Corrigan, P Ryan, F McGarry.

Subs: M Nagle for Robins (41); D Sweeney for McGarry (41); J Roche for Curtin (49); C Dooley for Corrigan (52)

Referee: J Owens (Wexford)

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