DIT 1-15 CARLOW 0-15
THE major difference between the hurling students of DIT and Carlow in this Walsh Shield semi-final at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday lay in the respective forward lines, with the visitors far more clinical in making and taking their scores.
Played in an absolute downpour before a paltry attendance but on a pitch which held up remarkably well, both sides deserve praise for their efforts in difficult, late-January conditions.
Carlow will point, with ample justification, to the absence of players from county hurling champions Mount Leinster Rangers, whose focus is firmly on the upcoming All-Ireland intermediate club hurling final in Croke Park.
But Kevin Ryan’s depleted side showed plenty of spirit and gave the students a real run for their money.
With the game in injury time the home side forced a 65 which, if things worked out, could have produced a levelling goal and forced extra time.
But the sliotar was cleared by a DIT defence that had been very vigilant all afternoon and the Dublin college was through to a shield final against Offaly, victors over Wexford in the other semi-final.
Carlow led twice in the early minutes of this game through a neat point within 15 seconds of the throw-in from their top forward Craig Doyle.
Padraig Phelan quickly leveled through a DIT free before budding star Marty Kavanagh pointed from play to edge the home side ahead again.
But for the following 10 minutes or so Carlow took a back seat as DIT took control and eased 0-5 to 0-2 in front by the 15th minute.
Carlow were unable, at this stage, to make any real impression and when sporadic scoring chances did come their way, they could not find the target.
Later in the half Kevin Ryan’s men fought back, with the play of Shane Kavanagh at centre back and Craig Doyle, in particular, providing the inspiration for the closing of the deficit to a single point (0-8 to 0-7) in injury time.
Then came a pivotal period of play.
First Carlow’s Martin Clowry saw his close-range effort for a kicked goal well saved and cleared by DIT goalie Finn McGarry.
The ball was swept upfield and following excellent inter-play between Buffers Alley clubman Pat Kenny, with Niall Quinn of Sarsfields (Galway), the Galwegian nudged the ball to the Carlow net for a 1-8 to 0-7 interval lead. So a potential half time lead for Carlow was turned into a four point deficit.
The second half was an even affair with Carlow outscoring the visitors by 0-8 to 0-7. With the Corcoran brothers, Shane Kavanagh, Eoin Nolan and the other home backs playing well, Carlow remained in contention but scores came much easier to the students as the home county struggled to occupy the scorekeeper.
The closest Carlow came in an earnest second half was two points (1-11 to 0-12) on 56 minutes when wing back John Corcoran scored a superb long-range point from play – showing his forwards the way.
Immediately Brian Campion, a substitute, made his mark with a point from play for DIT.
After that the students lead fluctuated between three and five points, eventually settling at three white flags.
Craig Doyle continued to take the fight to the opposition, the Erin’s Own clubman’s pace the greatest source of worry to the DIT defence.
But the number 12 could not do it on his own, even if there was a notable assistance from Carlow Town’s Ruairi Dunbar, a half time substitute who struck three fine points from play.
In the end, though, there was no denying the merit of the DIT win.
They had the sharper hurling skills and had some very fine hurlers in Lawrence Prendergast, Ollie Walsh, Pat Hartley, James Mulrooney, Niall Quinn and left full forward Paul Morris – the Ferns St Aidan’s (Wexford) clubman finished with four excellent points from play.
Carlow’s best performers on the day were Shane Kavanagh, John Corcoran, Eoin Nolan, Andrew Gaule, Craig Doyle, Ruairi Dunbar and the industrious James Kane.
The Barrowsiders now prepare for their NHL campaign and can look forward to the visit of Down in their opening game at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday, February 26.