Three times they met last year as U-12s, three close, hard fought games, one a County final in Netwatch Cullen Park, a game inched by Setanta so this U-13 fixture was eagerly awaited by those close to both sides.

A year on, though, there was one major difference, by dent of GAA rules, there were no girls on either team and as the perception was that the camogie players played a significant role in the Setanta final victory, this game then took on a new dimension, boys v boys and perhaps a dress rehearsal for a final rematch down the road though the other clubs will have a big say in that ...

Tonight,though in the Pres was simply about winning the championship points on offer, of laying down a marker and just like the three games in 2017 this latest clash was a thriller from start to finish, tough but fair exchanges, pucks of skilful hurling and a scoring trend which fluctuated with exciting rapidity.

Setanta's Conor Treacy opened the scoring with a point, then the visitors popped over a few nice scores before the home side twice located the net, Joe Carberry and David Bolger applying the finishing touches as the eventual winners retired with a 2-1 to 0-4 interval advantage.

On the restart Myshall gained the upper hand for a while and a brace of goals regained the lead for the yellow and black brigade before Setanta struck for three decisive green flags, Dylan McGrath stitching a fine shot out of his hand, Shane McCarthy rifling home another having eluded a couple of would-be tacklers while David Bolger's speculative shot also found the net.

Goals win games, they say, and that was certainly the case on this occasion but let's not forget the sound defensive work of a Setanta rearguard who made Myshall work hard for every ball with Cian Geoghegan a real firebrand while David Jacob, Dylan McGrath. Tristan McEntee and Ronan Sullivan were rock solid. Goalkeeper Joe Bermingham too was steady and mid-fielders Marc Mulhall and Ben Yeates put in a big shift as did Ross O'Hanlon, newcomer Oran O'Boyle and the scorers mentioned previously.

Well done to coaches Liam Treacy and Conor Whelan on having their charges well primed for the testing challenge as the hard work in the training field begins to pay dividends in match situations while positional switches also worked a treat.

Setanta: Joe Bermingham, Cian Geoghegan, Dylan McGrath, Tristan McEntee, David Jacob, Ronan Sullivan, Marc Mulhall, Ben Yeates, Conor Treacy, Oran O'Boyle, Ross O'Hanlon, David Bolger, Joe Carberry, Cathal Flynn, Seamus Bible, Rodrigo Lacey, Shane McCarthy, Ray McNamara, Elliot Hutchinson, Lorcan Kelly, Se Stafford, Daniel Dolan.