INSTONIANS held their nerve to win a last-over thriller against underdogs Cork County, clinching their first All-Ireland senior T20 crown, completing a magnificent treble in the process.

The game was filled with drama throughout including the sight of Instonians captain Cade Carmichael being taken to hospital in an ambulance with concussion.

The Irish international banged his head on the outfield while taking a catch, but thankfully after some initial concern was able to walk unaided.

Batting first Cork County were soon in early trouble at 40 for four, with South African overseas professional Shane Dadswell doing the damage with three wickets – all caught by Neil Rock, who would have a record six dismissals in the final.

Raj Undre (29) and Thorne Prophet (25) set about rebuilding the innings with a fifth wicket stand of 50, that laid the perfect platform for Zubair Khan.

The promising all-rounder thumped a 21-ball 35 and looked to be taking Cork to a total of around 160 before being brilliantly caught by Carmichael on the boundary in the aforementioned incident.

That was one of four wickets for Andrew White in the space of just six balls for the former Irish international and a final total of 141 looked under-par.

However, the absence of Carmichael at the top of the order was always in the back of Instonians thoughts, and those fears would have increased with the early dismissal of the free-scoring Neil Rock.

The NCU side’s nerves were eased by a fluent second-wicket stand of 55 in just 32 balls between Nikolai Smith who top-scored with 32 (four fours), and Dadswell, who cleared the ropes twice in a 19-ball 30.

Veteran spinner Sid Joshi though bowled his side back into the contest with three wickets, including two in two balls as the tension ratcheted up, and Munster’s self-belief grew.

Andrew White (17) and Sully Gould (22) edged Instonians closer to the target, but with 15 needed from the last two overs the game was evenly balanced,

Cian Robertson hit successive boundaries from the first two balls of the penultimate over to again swing the momentum towards ‘Inst’ but a flurry of dots saw five still needed with just four balls left.

Robertson though showed he was just the man for the occasion as he swung Mark Adrianatos through deep square to tie the scores, followed by the winning run the next ball – his relief evident as he punched the air repeatedly.

“I’m delighted to get the Man-of-the-Match award,” said a very proud Andrew White afterwards. “We have had a wonderful season, and they’re a great bunch of guys to play alongside.

“There was brilliant support here today, and it’s really special for them and the stalwarts to get an All-Ireland trophy.”

White praised the efforts of opponents Cork County who pushed them all the way.

“Cork threatened a number of times to post a really challenging total. The weather conditions were difficult to bowl and field in, but we held on to some really good catches there and kept them to a manageable total.

“Losing Cade Carmichael was a big blow to us. We were conscious not to put too much pressure on the lower order without Cade to the likes of David Agnew who is only 14.

“We probably got a bit tentative towards the back end, but there was a lot at stake for Instonians and we were delighted to get over the line.”

Stand-in captain Nikolai Smith revealed that Carmichael was in constant touch throughout the chase enroute to hospital.

“Cade didn’t want to leave the game before it was over but he was in the ambulance getting regular updates.

“He’s obviously a bit worse for wear at the moment but hopefully he will be fine. The good thing is he was up and about,  walking and talking after banging his head. It was a scary moment but hopefully we are past the worst.”

It’s certainly been an exceptional campaign for Instonians who will once again be the side to beat in 2026.