Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Carter gets Lismullen going

HURLING SHIELD

Despite being hit by a couple of early hammer blows Lismullen NS never dropped their heads and claimed the Hurling Shield title with a sensational injury-time goal from Ryan Carter at Trim on Friday.

When Kilcloon grabbed their early goals to assume control they looked in a formidable position, but Lismullen kept their heads and stayed in the game with Simon Hobbs outstanding in defence and Luke Donnelly-Reynolds magnificent in attack.

Three goals in a nine-minute spell midway through the second-half dragged Lismullen back from the precipice of defeat and edged them ahead, but the outstanding Bobby Collins looked to have forced a replay when he equalised with two minutes remaining.

However, two minutes into injury-time Lismullen went in search of a winner and it was Ryan Carter who pulled on a loose ball which flew to the net to spark wild celebrations for the team in black.

Kilcloon burst from the traps and had a goal on the board inside 10 seconds as Collins won the throw-in, raced through on goals and buried the ball in the net.

Just over a minute later they had a second goal on the board. This time John Hanlon laid off possession for Collins whose point attempt looped over the defence and into the far corner.

Lismullen finally settled and after hitting a couple of early wides they opened their account in the eighth minute when Donnelly-Reynolds converted a free from the left.

A minute later Donnelly-Reynolds doubled his side's account with an excellent score from play, but Collins responded with a similar score for Kilcloon.

That five-point lead quickly became eight in the 18th minute when another point attempt, this time from Max Ellerker, dropped to the net.

Donnelly-Reynolds did pull a point back for Lismullen who trailed by 0-3 to 3-1 at the break.

Kilcloon stretched their lead with another Collins free three minutes after the restart, but then came the Lismullen recovery.

A great clearance by Hobbs found Donnelly-Reynolds in midfield and he executed a brilliant finish to make it 1-3 to 3-2.

Eight minutes later Donnelly-Reynolds produced another brilliant low strike for his side's second goal and 90 seconds after that Cathal Farrell found the net, despite Liam Barry's brave effort to make a save, to give Lismullen the lead for the first time, 3-3 to 3-2.

Collins levelled it up from a free, but there was still time for the late drama which saw Lismullen emerge victorious.

Lismullen NS - David O’Flynn; Finn Farrelly, James Oakes, Simon Hobbs, Ryan Carter (1-0); Darragh Reynolds, Jamie Reynolds; Adam Lynch, Luke Donnelly-Reynolds (2-3 two frees), Freddie Davis, Cathal Farrell (1-0). Subs - Ryan Lynch, Paddy O'Donnell, Cillian Farrell, Oisín Campbell-O’Brien, Casey Reynolds, Evan McMahon, Ronan Freeman. Mentors - Adrian Hobbs, Shane Farrell, Liam O’Grady.

Kilcloon NS - Liam Barry; Sam Foley, Jesse Molloy, Abby Aherne, Max Kelleher; Bobby Collins (2-3 two frees), John Hanlon; Max Ellerker (1-0), Matthew Fogarty, Fiachra McDonagh, Hugo Ellerker. Subs - Sarah Brady, Aayna O'Reilly, Benjamin Moriarty, Aarav O'Reilly, Isobel Murray, Alex Shiels, Joe Moriarty, Tomás Hester, James Clerkin, Jamie Larkin, Ted Cosgrave, Conor Brady, Harry Snee, Edi Murtagh. Mentors - Shauna Ennis & Tomás Barker.

Referee - Gerard Dwane (St Michael’s NS, Trim).