Carlow minors record superb win to qualify for knockout stages
Carlow's Finnán Nolan lines up a shot Photo: Pat Ahern
It was mission accomplished for Carlow on Thursday in Netwatch Cullen Park when they beat Wexford and made it through to the knock-out stages of the Leinster Minor Football Championship.
They were the better team for almost throughout but they struggled to put away the opposition who kept in touch mainly because the home side lacked a killer instinct against vulnerable looking opponents. Nevertheless, the winning manager was not fazed by the manner of the victory.
“The ambition at the start of the year was to, initially, take it step by step focussing on getting out of the group and getting into the knock-out stages. That is where we are at now. We have built a platform for what will be, I am sure, a bigger challenge the next day out,” said Paul McElligott.
A point a piece from Alex Doyle and Cormac Murphy saw Carlow take an early lead but in a sign of things to come, Wexford hit back with a PJ Breen point. Ronan Dooley’s two-pointer should have given Carlow the momentum to push on but scores from Donncha O’Hanlon and Cian Kavanagh kept Wexford in touch.
Carlow did have two goal chances with Dooley hitting the left-hand upright at the O’Hanrahan end of the pitch while the same player was denied by a good save from the Wexford keeper, Elliott Barrett. Dooley was not going to be denied forever and he compensated with another two-pointer. Doyle also converted a free from outside the Dee to give the Barrowsiders a 0-10 to 0-3 interval lead.
“I thought the first half there were some nervy moments where we had full control but lost possession. We handed momentum back to Wexford at times. We needed to tidy that up in the second half but we were probably overly cautious and invited Wexford on,” noted McElligott.
The Model County created early chances in the second half but the Carlow defence stood square conceding only three points in nineteen minutes. In the meantime, Doyle, Adam Joyce and Eoghan Treacy raised white flags to cancel out the Wexford gains.
“Nerves were definitely a factor in that second half when we were looking to close out the game. We were looking forward to the final whistle. Wexford came with a huge fight. They are never beaten until the final whistle goes.
They were coming at us in waves. We were struggling to get out of our own half then,” said the Carlow manager.
The home side continued to defend well but didn’t create too many chances themselves. At times Carlow players last ditch tackles which also produced frees for Wexford could have been costly but they did enough to eke out the victory.
“We never encourage it but there are probably moments in the game. Lads were putting their bodies on the line,” agreed McElligott.
“Rian Nolan was injured. He was putting his body on the line. He wasn’t afraid to do it. Look, at the end of the day we knew that if we didn’t concede a goal, we could close out the game. That was the difference.”
Ultimately Danny McMahon’s point put seven between the sides and allowed Carlow a bit of breathing space as they ushered their neighbours out of the championship and advanced with a level of panache themselves.
R Dooley 0-6 (2-2ps f), A Doyle 0-5 (1-2pf, 2fs), C Murphy, A Joyce, E Treacy, D McMahon 0-1 each.
Wexford: Cian Kavanagh 0-5 (5fs), H Asple 0-2, D O’Hanlon, PJ Breen, J Forde 0-1 each.
Cathal Kennedy; Conor Stanley, Brandon Nolan, Rian Nolan; Darragh Casey, Enda Byrne, Darragh Coleman; Ben Nolan, Eoghan Treacy; Adam Joyce, Cormac Murphy, Ronan Dooley; Alex Doyle, Jack Monahan, Danny McMahon.
Michael Redmond for Murphy (35), Finnán Nolan for Joyce (43), Oisin Byrne for Nolan (58), Jamie Doody for Nolan (63).
Elliott Barrett; Sean Hennessy, Ruadhán O’Dwyer, Sam Mulvihill; PJ Breen, James Wall, Mick Kehoe; Pádraig Higgins, Rory Dee; Jack Buggy, James Forde, Donncha O’Hanlon; Fergal Doyle, Cian Kavanagh, Scott Sinnott.
Dean McGarry for Breen (h/t), Harry Asple for O’Hanlon (48), Eoghan McGlanaghy for Sinnott (48), Jack Doyle for Hennessy (61).
Stephen Fagan (Wicklow).
