14-man Kilskyre/Moylagh battle to claim IHC title
Darren O'Higgins' goal in the 53rd minute was a killer blow to Rathmolyon's hopes in the IHC final on Saturday.
Kilskyre/Moylagh 2-14
Rathmolyon 0-12
A stunning Darren O’Higgins goal in the 53rd minute ensured Kilskyre/Moylagh lifted the Mick Leonard Cup and secured their spot in the SBHC for 2026 with a win over Rathmolyon at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday. With the wind at their back in the first-half, Kilskyre/Moylagh got off to a flying start in the IHC decider and after a very tidy Willie McGrath goal, Tom Gilsenan’s side led by six points at the end of the first quarter.
The Village began to steady the ship and they were given a numerical boost in the 25th minute when the eventual winners were reduced to 14 men. After a couple of Joey Christie frees, only three points separated the sides at the interval.
It’s often said that the team with one less man can conjure up more hunger than the opposition and Kilskyre/Moylagh’s second-half performance was great evidence for that particular theory. They played into the wind and were a man down, but they came out of the blocks well after the restart and rattled off the first three points.
A bright spell for Rathmolyon midway through the half saw them claw the deficit back to three again before O’Higgins’ goal with seven minutes remaining put a nice cushion between the sides and Kilskyre/Moylagh closed out the game well.
The two Shine brothers, Daire and Tom, were to the forefront of an impressive performance for the now IHC champions. Rathmolyon’s failure to convert chances proved to be costly for them and they only scored three points from play.
Tom Shine put Kilskyre/Moylagh 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after six minutes before the tricky O’Higgins broke his way through on goal. O'Higgins' shot was blocked, but after a somewhat chaotic scramble, the sliotar fell to Willie McGrath, who danced his way through the Rathmolyon defence and produced a nice finish to the net.
McGrath followed up with a well-struck ‘65’ before Tom Shine made it 1-4 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. Three Joey Christie frees got Rathmolyon up and running again before they were handed a major life-line when Eoin Briody appeared to head butt Jarlath Ennis. Briody was given his marching orders and Kilskyre/Moylagh were reduced to 14 men. Two late Christie frees closed out the half and at the interval Kilskyre/Moylagh led 1-6 to 0-6.
Playing into the wind, the eventual winners hit the first three points after the restart with two McGrath frees and a nice Tom Shine score. Rathmolyon eventually started to make better use of the extra player as Christie knocked over a couple of frees. A well-taken point from Jamie Doonan reduced the gap back to three. Doonan’s score in the 45th minute was Rathmolyon’s first point from play and up to that point they were forced to rely on Christie’s frees for contributions to the scoreboard.
The early stages of the final quarter were very entertaining for the neutral as both sides looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck. There was goal chances at either end for the likes of Tom Shine and Vincent Ward. Sean Mulligan hit a nice score for Rathmolyon while McGrath kept his personal tally ticking over.
It was a counterattack in the 53rd minute that Tom Gilsenan’s army delivered their faithful blow. The speedster Darren O’Higgins was never going to be caught when he found himself in space with only the posts and John Harnan in front of him. It was a really good finish from the corner forward and that goal put seven points between the sides. Rathmoylyon never recovered and Stephen Masterson’s final whistle confirmed Kilskyre/Moylagh as IHC champions.
Kilskyre/Moylagh - Charlie Usher; Benji Smith, Podge Muldoon, Jack Connell; Paul Hennessey, Daire Shine (0-2 two frees), Eoin Briody; James Cooke, Fergal Flynn; Lorcan Maguire, Tom Shine (0-4), Oisin McDermott; Sean Geraghty, Willie McGrath (1-7 six frees, one ‘65’), Darren O’Higgins (1-1). Subs - Killian McCaffery for Maguire 40m, Jimmy Boyle for McDermott 54m.
Rathmolyon - John Harnan; Trevor Healy, Sean Mulligan (0-1), Aron Doherty; Jamie Doonan (0-1), Simon Ennis, Cathal Regan; Arthur Doyle, Jack Payne; Daithi Grehan, Vicent Ward, Kevin Mulligan(0-1); Joey Christie (0-9 nine frees), Jarlath Ennis, Stephen Mulligan. Subs - Ciaran Regan for Doherty 35m, Martin Forde for Stephen Mulligan 44m, Robert Ennis for Doonan 56m, Connall Stafford for Grehan 58m, David Morgan for Sean Mulligan 61m.
Referee - Stephen Masterson (Kildalkey)