Old Leighlin claim their third title

Old Leighlin 1-8 Tinryland 1-7:OLD LEIGHLIN are Carlow senior football champions for a third time after they held off a late Tinryland rally to claim the Conlon Cup in an error-strewn final before an estimated 4,000 spectators at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

Tinryland, seeking a 16th SFC title and a first in 30 years, were thrown an injury-time lifeline when full forward Evan Doyle crashed home a goal to cut the defending champions’ lead to a point. The challengers fought desperately for a levelling point but fell just short.

Old Leighlin led 1-3 to 0-2 at the interval, the goal coming in the 18th minute from left-corner forward Séamus Kinsella, who scored a total of 1-5 and was named man of the match. The holders were denied a second goal just on half-time through a superb double save from Tinryland and county senior goalkeeper Trevor O’Reilly.

Paul Broderick and Séamus Kinsella traded early second-half points before Tinryland went on a roll which saw them draw level in the 51st minute through an Evan Doyle point from a free (0-7 to 1-4).

But the champions then reeled off four unanswered points from Kinsella (two), Cathal Coughlan and David Dowling before Evan Doyle finished to the net after sloppy play in the Old Leighlin defence.

Old Leighlin defended solidly, led splendidly by team captain John Hayden at centre back. Hayden has been part of all three SFC successes, playing in the final wins of 1997, 2010 and 2011.

OLD LEIGHLIN: J Clarke; R Burke, Michael Patrick Meaney, G Hickey; D Dowling (0-1), J Hayden, E Fitzgerald; P Hickey, M Brennan; D Kelly, C Coughlan (0-2, one free), D Bambrick; Michael Philip Meaney, H Gahan, Séamus Kinsella (1-5, 0-2 frees). Subs: Seán Kinsella for Dowling (58 mins).

TINRYLAND: T O’Reilly; J Sutton, C Byrne, J P Moore; D Moran (0-1), S Redmond, N Barrett; K Jackson, C Moore; G Doyle, P Townsend, G Morrissey (0-1); P Broderick (0-4, two frees, one 45), E Doyle (1-1), C Walshe, Subs: P Doran for Jackson (30 mins), P Doyle for Morrissey (40 mins), P Delaney for Barrett (55 mins).

Referee: J Hickey (Fenagh).