CARLOW 0-11 UCD 2-13
THE unfamiliar setting of IT Carlow on a soft Friday night saw Kevin Ryan’s Carlow senior hurlers kick off the new season with an eight-point defeat to UCD in the first round of the Walsh Cup.
Tipperary star Noel McGrath stood head and shoulders above most other players on the field of play as the students, right in the middle of their Fitzgibbon Cup preparations, brushed aside the challenge of the hosts.
With Carlow missing a host of Mount Leinster Rangers players, there was more than a touch of experimentation about the team. Ryan started with Ruairi Dunbar at wing back and young St Mullins starlet Martin Kavanagh at corner forward.
They took their time to settle into the game when perhaps a more physical challenge was needed to unsettle the students in the opening exchanges.
UCD, peppered with players from top hurling counties, attacked the ball with greater purpose early on and passed with greater precision as they took an early two-point lead.
Marty Kavanagh didn’t take long to get off the mark making best use of the little space he was afforded to open Carlow’s account on eight minutes.
Then Naomh Brid’s James Kane gathered a ball above his head and turned to level the scores. UCD hit a purple patch with a couple of Noel McGrath points and a Kevin O’Loughlin goal giving themselves some breathing space.
To Carlow’s credit, they worked their way back into the game as half time approached with Ruairi Dunbar (free), Craig Doyle and another fine effort on the turn from James Kane leaving it 1-6 to 0-5 to UCD.
But Carlow continued to be wasteful and hit nine wides, some from very favourable positions.
Just when it seemed Carlow might enter the break with the visitors in reach, Walter Walsh’s pace opened up the Carlow defence and his pass inside was expertly flicked to the net by O’Loughlin again.
At the break, Carlow trailed by 2-7 to 0-6.
The pace and direction of the game didn’t alter significantly in the second half with UCD content to keep Carlow at arm’s length without ever running away with the game.
A Marty Kavanagh free in the first minute of the half wasn’t added to until sub Paudie Kehoe pointed 17 minutes later. In the meantime, UCD slotted five points although Noel McGrath saw his penalty well saved.
Cillian McCabe, Jack Kavanagh and Kehoe again added to Carlow’s tally before the final whistle.
So from Friday night lights it’s on to the Walsh Shield next Sunday with a game against DIT in Carlow at 2pm for Kevin Ryan’s men.
On this display there’s plenty of work still to be done before the league kicks off in just over a month’s time.