MLR pip Setanta after Extra Time!

Carlow U-12 Hurling Championship Semi Final

Setanta  2-5; Mt Leinster Rangers 3-7 (A.E.T.)

All Ireland Community Games Champions got a real fright when they travelled to play Setanta in the under 12 hurling championship semi final in Presentation College on Tuesday evening last when it took extra time to separate two fairly evenly matched sides . In a high class game played on a beautiful surface for hurling - grass cut half an hour beforehand - both sides hammered into the game with super performances and scores. Setanta almost 'ambushed' MLR but their doughty forwards and a few cute moves helped them secure a well merited win where they play Muinebeag in the final on Thursday evening.

Setanta showed some positional changes with Conor Treacy in the goals and Ronan Sullivan and Shane McCarthy in the forwards for Setanta. The game was slow to burn into excitement and the constant harrying of the MLR forwards and midfielders forced them to shoot wide time after time.

With the strong and skilful Kyle Nolan scoring 0-3 and young Shane McCarthy scoring a good goal MLR were under some pressure but their wily Tomas Joyce who operated out of three lines scored 1-4 and he was ably assisted by the excellent Tim Brennan who registered 0-3. Setanta's answer was scores from Killian McGrath who really imposed himself on the game with a super score off his left. Indeed the same player was unlucky to see a rasper shoot into the side netting...

The youngest Setanta player, Ronan Sullivan recently returned from holidays in The Deise played super stuff and emerged with an impressive 1-1 from play. Mark Dundon registered a goal from close range while the wily Pauric Kavanagh also netter the maximum.

It was a pity that this game went into extra time - but the final on Thursday was calling hard and the powers that be insisted that ET had to be played.

MLR got a real fright and the Liam Treacy charges from Setanta were so close and yet so far... Sport at its best!

All the players deserve a mention and the standard of blocking hooking and lifting and striking the ball was top class. Well done also to Seamie Doyle for his excellent refereeing of this thrilling encounter.

Hurling is alive and well if this game is anything to go by!!!