Joy and heartbreak in equal measure in the AIB Leinster Club finals at Nowlan Park with victory going to Oulart-The Ballagh and Tullaroan by single point margins.

In very testing conditions, Tullaroan's staged a defensive tour de force to deny Myshall in the Intermediate final while Aideen Brennan in the 62nd minute gave the Leinster and All-Ireland Senior Champions the title with the last puck of the match.

AIB Intermediate Final - Tullaroan 0-8  Myshall 1-4

With barely a minute gone on the clock, a clinical move begun by Junior County Player of the Year the superb Kate Nolan split the Tullaroan defence.  The ball was picked up by Ali Ruschitzko and she placed Michelle Nolan for a great goal.  Despite playing into a very strong breeze, the opening 5 or 6 minutes belonged to Myshall as they hurled with great skill and confidence and they really should have put some more scores with that opening goal.  But a missed free and another close range effort for a point would prove costly as gradually Tullaroan recovered.

Three points by sharpshooter free taker Niamh Dowling had levelled for Tullaroan by the 12 minute but Myshall would have been happy enough with their performance at this stage.

Their ploy of playing an extra defender was working and Tullaroan were finding it very difficult to score and were left to rely on Niamh Dowling to edge them in front from frees.  Miriam Walsh did manage their only point from play in the half in the 13th minute to give her side the lead.  But Myshall were showing signs that with the breeze at their backs in the second half they had reasons for optimism. Goalkeeper Joanne Joyce was composed and made intelligent use of the puck-out.  Kate Nolan was outstanding at centre back and Marian Doyle was a very useful target person around the middle of the field.

By  half time Tullaroan had managed to build a 0-7 to 1-0 lead but Myshall will look back on five wides in that period compared to only one when playing with the breeze in the second period.

After the break, Tullaroan emerged with a changed strip - this time with visible black numbers and two minutes into the half Grace Walsh struck a splendid point that must have impressed brothers and hurley carriers Tommy and Padraig.   A wonderful sign of support from such hurling legends.

It was to be Tullaroan's only score of the half but a crucial one.

Myshall threw all they had into the game and two excellent points from the very dangerous Ciara Quirke drew huge cheers from the big Carlow following.  The cheering had hardly died down in the 43rd minute when Ciara Quirke placed Michelle Nolan for another great point for Myshall.

Throughout the game - Myshall looked the more likely to score from play.  When Kate Nolan managed to turnover possession and then strike a mighty point from 45m to leave just one between the teams - one could be forgiven for thinking this game has got to be Myshalls with 15 minutes remaining. 

But amazingly that was the final score of the game as Tullaroan's defence defiantly met everything that was thrown at them none more so than outstanding centre back Áine Fahey who repelled numerous attacks.

They also can thank some sound goalkeeping from Noreen Delaney particularly when a point that looked like being the equaliser from Kate Nolan in the 54th minute hit the upright and fell within a metre of the goal line.  But time ran out for Myshall and a relieved Tullaroan can pay particular tribute to their backs including Kilkenny Rose of Tralee Claire Walshe who also sang Amhrán na bhFiann before the senior game and Ailish Langton for holding out in that hectic closing quarter.

Tullaroan scorers: Niamh Dowling (0-6), Grace Walsh and Miriam Walsh (0-1 each)

Myshall:  Michelle Nolan (1-1), Ciara Quirke (0-2), Kate Nolan (0-1)

Referee: Jenny Byrne

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