Island win with late Mullins point

AN INJURY time point from Fintan Mullins earned Our Lady’s Island a thrilling victory in Group A of the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship in St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.

That outcome looked extremely unlikely when the Wexford District outfit trailed by 1-9 to 0-4 with 25 minutes on the clock, but they hit a purple patch before the break, scoring 3-2 without reply to take a three-point lead into the interval.

The Island were quickly out of the traps, winning a penalty with just a minute gone when Dean Maloney was fouled, but goalkeeper Stuart Quinn dived full length to get a stick on Liam Kinsella’s effort.

Maloney slotted over the resulting ’65 and Fintan Mullins doubled their tally, but St. Patrick’s gradually took control and when Eamon O’Leary touched John Doyle’s delivery to the net in the eleventh minute it gave them a 1-4 to 0-2 advantage.

The north county side looked to have found their groove, increasing their lead to eight points with John Doyle, Tommy Dunne and Tomás Morris contributing eye-catching scores.

However, Our Lady’s Island turned the game on its head by plundering three goals in a devastating five-minute spell.

On 26 minutes Fintan Mullins picked out Dean Maloney with a crossfield ball and he applied a clinical finish to ignite the flames of a fightback.

Mullins then added two goals himself in as many minutes, first gathering a delivery from Quinn Saunders and firing to the net and then repeating the trick when Davy Corish arrowed a pass into his path.

St. Patrick’s re-grouped well though, scoring six of the first seven points after the turnaround, with John Doyle to the fore, to hold a 1-15 to 3-7 advantage midway through the half.

Points from Cian Meyler and Nicky Keane restored parity for Our Lady’s Island but the Gorey District outfit responded well with Tynan Flynn and John Doyle slotting over to re-establish the two-point cushion.

However, the Island summoned up a big finish, with scores from Quinn Saunders and Fintan Mullins drawing them level, before the latter plundered the crucial winner in the second minute of injury time.

Our Lady’s Island: Alan Kinsella; Rory Reville, Eamon Maloney, Brian Moore; Eoin Kinsella, Liam Kinsella, Davy Corish; Joey Murphy, Quinn Saunders (0-1); Nicky Keane (0-1), Fintan Mullins (2-3), Dean Maloney (1-4, 0-2 frees, 0-2 ’65s); Darragh Sinnott (0-1), Colm Kinsella, Cian Meyler (0-2). Subs. - Cathal Devereux for E. Kinsella, Robbie Reville for Keane, Dylan Murphy for Sinnott.

St. Patrick’s: Stuart Quinn; Peter Roche, Michael O’Brien, Joe Cousins; Hughie Doyle, Dermot O’Leary, Brian Cadigan; Richie Flood, Eamon O’Leary (1-1); Shane Finn, John Doyle (0-11, 6 frees, 1 line ball), Tommy Dunne (0-3); Tynan Flynn (0-1), Tomás Morris (0-1), Tommy Morris. Sub. Ashley Tully for Tommy Morris.

Referee: Martin Armstrong (Rapparees).