Carlow no match for classy Clare
Carlow's Donagh Murphy heads for the Clare goals, with Dylan McMahon for company. Photo: Pat Ahern.
Clare made it five wins out of five as they proved too good for Carlow in this National Hurling League Division 1B tie at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
The visitors got off to a great start surging into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead after only eight minutes. The goal came in the second minute when the Carlow defence failed to deal with the dropping ball and Shane Meehan found the net from close range. Also on the mark was Diarmuid Stritch who scored two points on the trot which underlined the Clare dominance.
Carlow looked to be in trouble but they dug in and didn’t let themselves be overawed by the side who were All-Ireland senior winners only two years previously.
The Barrowsiders came to terms with the challenge and a Chris Nolan free got them off the mark. The fast Clare forwards unit still kept the scoreboard ticking over with five of their starting forwards landing some great scores from play in the opening half.
Chris Nolan was the home side’s leading scorer while Jon Nolan and Fiachra Fitzpatrick also raised white flags. Coming up to half-time a Carlow attack down the left almost brought a goal but keeper, Eibhear Quilligan, saved brilliantly to deny Donagh Murphy. At the break, Clare led 1-15 to 0-8.
The visitors continued to be the dominant side in the second half where Mark Rodgers was deadly accurate from placed balls. David Fitzgerald scored three excellent points from play for the league leaders but Jon Nolan also landed three for Carlow before picking up a second yellow late on.
The two sides shared six points in the final minutes as Carlow found something more which could serve them well before facing into Kildare next week which could be a game which will decide their fate in the division this season.
M Rodgers 0-11 (9fs), S Meehan 1-3, D Stritch 0-4, D Fitzgerald, D Reidy 0-3 each J O’Neill 0-2 R Taylor, S Rynne 0-1 each.
C Nolan 0-11 (8fs), J Nolan 0-3, J Treacy 0-2, F Fitzpatrick, C Beck 0-1 each.
Eibhear Quilligan; Dylan McMahon, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Cathal Malone, David McInerney, Jamie Moylan; Diarmuid Stritch, Ryan Taylor; Jack O’Neill, Jack Kirwan, David Fitzgerald; Shane Meehan, Mark Rodgers, David Reidy.
Ronan Kilroy for McInerney (6), Ian Galvin for Reidy (46), Sean Rynne for Kirwan (50), Aidan Fawl for Moylan (54), John Conneally for Leen (60).
Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Lorcan Doyle; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Paidi O’Shea; Kevin Kavanagh, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Donagh Murphy, Eric English; Ted Joyce, Jack Treacy, Chris Nolan.
Richard Coady for O’Shea (h/t), Tadgh O’Neill for L Doyle (h/t), John Doyle for Joyce (43), Colm Beck for Kavanagh (50), Marty Kavanagh for English (59).
C Mooney (Dublin).
