Rathnure celebrate after winning the AIB Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.
AIB Leinster Club IHC final
Rathnure 0-24 Lisdowney 1-16
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Twelve-point shooter Jack Redmond spearheaded Rathnure’s surge to the black and amber’s first-ever AIB Leinster Intermediate club hurling championship crown at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday at the expense of Lisdowney.
The Kilkenny winners struck a 33rd minute blow when Richard McEvoy netted a 1-10 to 0-11 transformation.
But the Declan ‘Skippy’ Ruth managed Rathnure responded to draw level three times before Shane Lawler regained an edge after 51 minutes and man of the match Redmond drove the six-time provincial Senior champions to glory.
And Rathnure are now planning for the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway and Connacht champions Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry on the weekend of December 14/15.
The Redmond brothers, captain Jack (two) and Mick, settled Rathnure into a fourth minute 0-3 to 0-1 lead, before Lisdowney balanced the books after six minutes through Brian Kavanagh (free) and Liam Dunphy.
A nifty line-ball from Rory Higgins set up Shane Lawler to strike Rathnure back in front after thirteen minutes, only for the visitors to quickly restore parity through free-taker Kavanagh (0-4 each).
Rathnure then threatened as Jack Redmond added a brace the points – the second from a ’65 after Lisdowney ‘keeper Aidan Tallis – the reserve Kilkenny netminder – produced a crucial intervention on an angled drive from Lawler.
And Seán O’Connor was also foiled by a superb hook when a searing solo burst by Lawler generated a 24th minute goaling chance.
Relieved Lisdowney eventually broke adrift by the minimum (0-10 to 0-9) as Richard McEvoy, Pat O’Carroll, Niall Brennan, Kavanagh (free) and Luke Holohan eclipsed closing Rathnure overs from the sticks of Ciarán O’Connor, Lawler and sharpshooting leader Redmond (two).
Lisdowney delivered that first blow after an exchange of early second-half points, as McEvoy gathered from Brian Kavanagh before wriggling free to crash to the net and earn Trevor Fletcher’s men their first taste of the lead after 33 minutes (1-10 to 0-11).
Rathnure responded to draw level three times by the 49th minute, as Mick Redmond led the way with a brace, with Lawler, Ciarán O’Connor, Jack Redmond and A.J. Redmond also on the mark.
And Shane Lawler added to the shift in momentum when striking the black and amber back in front after 51 minutes (0-19 to 1-15).
That sparked the decisive surge, with Jack Redmond applying icing to the cake with four closing points (three frees) as the club of the famed Rackard brothers broke new ground.
Scorers for Rathnure: Jack Redmond 0-12 (1 ’65, 3 frees), Mick Redmond 0-3, Shane Lawler 0-4, Ciarán O’Connor, Seán O’Connor 0-2 each, A.J. Redmond 0-1
Scorers for Lisdowney: Brian Kavanagh 0-7 (7 fs), Richard McEvoy 1-2, Cathal Jordan, Liam Dunphy 0-2 each, Pat O’Carroll, Niall Brennan, Luke Holohan 0-1 each
Rathnure: Kyle Martin; Stephen Martin, Brian Quigley, Conor O’Neill; Micheál O’Connor, Pádraig Doyle, Donal Wickham; Ciarán O’Connor, Eamonn Wickham; Jack Redmond (capt.), Rory Higgins, Mick Redmond; Shane Lawler, A.J. Redmond, Seán O’Connor. Subs: Michael Martin for C. O’Connor (50), James Tobin for Higgins (53), Luke Codd for Lawler (58), Mick Somers for M. O’Connor (60+1),
Lisdowney: Aidan Tallis; Seán Phelan, Ben Tallis, Lar Campion; Michael Kenny (capt.), Eoin Walsh, Alan Dunphy; Liam Dunphy, Niall Brennan; Richard McEvoy, Pat O’Carroll, Eibhan McEvoy; Brian Kavanagh, Cathal Jordan, Luke Holohan. Subs: Eoin Kenny for Holohan (36), David O’Carroll for Phelan (44), Vinny Fitzpatrick for McEvoy (51), Andrew McEvoy for Jordan (58),
Referee: Matthew Redmond (Kildare).
