MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS 1-10 BALLINKILLEN 1-05: YOU'VE ALL heard about the ' Drive for Five' orchestrated by a centre half forward whose combination of graft and craft allied to phenomenal scoring power has lit up the hurling horizon. However, on this occasion we are not referring to Kilkenny and NoHenry Shefflin but to Mount Leinster Rangers who last Wednesday evening, powered by No 11 Chris Nolan, won a fabulous fifth successive Carlow U-12 A HC title.

Nolan, a hurler of flair and finesse, gave a scoring exhibition of which even King Henry would be proud, his personal tally of 1-8, 1-5 of which came from play lighting up the last ever A final in this agegroup.

Chris gave early indication that he was in flying form, pointing off both his right and left inside the opening five minutes, then quickly adding another from a 40m placed ball close to the sideline.

Supplemented by a sweet Tony O'Grady point involving minimal backswing, the Rangers were 04 to 0-0 in front after seven minutes but brave Ballinkillen, hurling into a stiff wind, secured themselves a life-line when a Jamie Wall line-ball on the terrace wing initiated a move that ended with Jamie McCabe's first time ground stroke finishing up in the net.

That was in the 10th minute, then Nolan (a great point on the run) and Ciaran Whelan (a well judged free into the wind) exchanged points to leave just a point between the sides on the call of half-time.

Concerted Rangers attacking almost yielded a goal a minute before break, James Quinn's groundshot flying narrowly wide but a minute later the Borris parish side won a 20m free slightly to the left to the scoreboard end posts.

Up stepped Chris Nolan, who aware that a point lead would be a precarious one facing into the breeze, took on the responsibility of going for goal. In a replica of Shefflin's crucial free in last years AllIreland final, the Rangers raider sent a rising rocket to the Ballinkillen net.

1-5 to 1-1, then, at the break, Ballinkillen gave it their absolute all on the resumption and with eleven minutes to go the gripping final was delicately poised, Rangers leading 1-6 to 1-4, Nolan having tacked on a point for the winners while Ciaran Whelan (free) and outstanding centre half back Jamie Wall (2, one from play after his goal attempt from a free had been cleared) replied for the challengers.

Once more Chris Nolan returned to centre-stage, converting two close range frees that he himself had won, the second from a difficult angle in the right corner, then with seven mintes remaining embarking on a remarkable solo-run that culminated in an inspirational point.

That hat-trick of point gave the BallymurphyRathanna-Borris boys a five point cushion, a cushion brilliantly protected when goalkeeper Paddy Malone brought off a marvellous reflex save to deny Ciaran Whelan's rising shot of the ultimate reward.

In normal circumstances the fact that Jamie Wall (free) and John Nolan barteted late points would hardly merit comment but on those occasion Nolan's neat strike out of the hand enters the record books as the last in an U-12 A final, 42 years after Carlow Town's Mick Delaney scored the first.

Apart from the irrepressible Chris Nolan, the Rangers had outstanding hurlers in Niall Lynam, Dara Tobin in defence and Tony and Garry Lawlor at mid-field. Best for a gallant Ballinkillen fifteen, five of whom had won U-14 HC A medals two days earlier, were Jamie Wall, Martin Bridges and Ciaran Whelan while Jack Foley, Thomas Dowling, Dan Sheehan and Liam Murphy were others of note.

- LEO McGOUGH