Having snatched a last gasp draw in normal time, Boardsmill kicked-on in the additional 20 minutes to claim the IHC title at Drumree's expense at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon.

Boardsmill .....4-12
Drumree ....... 1-14
after-extra-time

Drumree seemed set to claim the silverware until two late goals brought this final to extra time and afford Boardsmill the chance to atone for losing to Wolfe Tones in the 2020 final three months ago. Photos

Boardsmill led for the first time in the opening minute of extra time, when Neil McLoughlin pointed a close range free, and had the wherewithal to take that advantage to the finish and claim the Mick Leonard Cup.

Danny Dixon and Fergal Flattery shared the goals between them. Flattery got the first just after the second water break and it trimmed the deficit from seven points to four. 1-6 to 1-10.

Dixon netted the second goal leaving just three points between the sides with 55 minutes gone. Flattery second, in the third minute of added time, forced extra time.

Had Boardsmill lost they would rue 13 wides as against six for Drumree. Dixon's second goal settled matters after he pounced on a rebound when Flattery's effort was stopped by Drumree 'keeper Brian Lawlor.

There was barely a minute on the clock when Drumree captain Josh Wall fired in the first goal. They took that lead to half-time when it was 1-5 to 0-6.

Drumree's spirited showing wasn't matched by a jersey that was difficult to read, more difficult than the one worn in the curtain raiser.

Drumree extended their lead in the third quarter, by which time the breeze had dropped. A Sean Doyle 65 moved them 1-10 to 0-6 clear by the second water break.

Dixon had a goal chance close to the mid-point of the half but his effort was comforably parried by Lawlor.

Two more Doyle points from placed balls kept Drumree on the front foot in the latter stages, but they had no answer to four goals from the 50th miinute to the finish.

When the hour was complete, somehow Boardsmill were on level terms with Drumree - 3-7 to 1-13. Extra-time afforded them the time to outscore the men in red and white by 1-5 to 0-1.

Scorers: Boardsmill - Danny Dixon 2-2; Fergal Flattery 2-1; Neil McLoughlin 0-5 (2fs); Liam O'Brien 0-2 (1f, 1 65); Thomas Leonard, Steve Gibbons 0-1 each.

Drumree - Sean Doyle 0-5 (3fs, 1 65); Josh Wall 1-2; Cathal McCormack 0-3; Kevin Bawle 0-2; David Reilly, Sean Kilcoyne 0-1 each. \

Boardsmill - David Farrell; Conor Darby, Jim Bird, John Mitchell; Eamon Roche, Jim Roche, Ray Hatton; Steve Gibbons, Cian Royston; Liam O'Brien, Fergal Flattery, Neil McLoughlin (c); Thomas Leonard, Danny Dixon, Niall Durkan. Subs - Donal Flattery for Durkan (36), Niall Bagnell for Roche (40), James Durkan for Leonard (50), Sean Dixon for O'Brien (60). Sub in extra time - Liam O'Brien for Bird (78).

Drumree - Brian Lawlor; Ordhran O'Riordan, Keith Rooney, Jeff Wall; Aidan Fraher,  Gareth Rooney, Kevin Hally; Paul Briody, Kevin Bawle; Cathal McCormack, David Reilly, Josh Wall (c); Sean Kilcoyne, John Crimmins, Sean Doyle. Subs - Eoin O'Connor for Rooney (40), Niall Gavin for Crimmins (47). Subs in extra time - Gavin Byrne for Doyle (70), John Crimmins for Bawle (70).

Referee - Ciaran Flynn (Kilmessan)

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