Five-Star Carlow into Joe McDonagh Final
Conor Kehoe celebrates scoring a fine Carlow goal past London's Mark Kilgannon. Photos: Pat Ahern.
Carlow are back in a third Joe McDonagh Cup final. With a game to spare on Saturday in Netwatch Cullen Park, they made sure of their place in a Croke Park decider on June 6th when a superior second half performance saw them ease to victory.
Against a strong breeze, the home side struggled making a series of errors. Passes went astray as players slipped on a greasy surface but London were unable to capitalise. Carlow still managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with Marty Kavanagh converting three 65s and four frees as his side led 0-11 to 0-8 at the interval. Ronan McGrady landed three frees for London and Jack Loughnane was on target with a side-line cut. At full-forward, Paul Kennedy had half-goal chances but a tight defence saw him opt to dink the ball over the crossbar.
The home side got off to a great start in the second half when, only a minute in, Donagh Murphy drew the penalty and Kavanagh made no mistake shooting low and hard to the keeper’s left.
The same player added two further points and Murphy also raised a white flag as Carlow started to make full use of their wind advantage. Full-back, Dion Wall, pointed as the eventual winners played with a lot more freedom.
Jack Treacy scored the second Carlow goal but the London keeper, Mark Kilgannon was unlucky as he had brought off two point blank saves before the ball fell nicely for the Carlow corner forward.
After that the home side were in full control. Conor Kehoe scored two goals in quick succession and by the end, Kavanagh also added to his total. London did have a three-point chance near the end but Sean Glynn had to settle for a point.
Now Carlow face Antrim away from home next weekend in their final group game. It will be interesting to say what approach the management team take. Will they stick with what has been working for them up to this or do they give some of those players who have only featured intermittently so far a chance to stake a claim for a place in the final?
M Kavanagh 2-11 (3-65s 5fs), C Kehoe 2-0, C Nolan 0-4, J Treacy 1-0, J Doyle 0-3, J M Nolan 0-2, D Murphy 0-2, F O’Toole, D Wall, E Kealy, R Coady, L Doyle 0-1 each.
R McGrady 0-5 (fs), P Kennedy 0-3, S Glynn, D Dawson, J Loughnane (sl) 0-1 each.
Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Jack McCullagh; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Ciaran Whelan; Jack Treacy, Marty Kavanagh, James Doyle; Donagh Murphy, Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan.
Fiach O’Toole for J Nolan (53), Lorcan Doyle for Whelan (55), Jake Nolan for Murphy (57), John Michael Nolan for C Nolan (59), Richard Coady for Kealy (62).
Mark Kilgannon; Barry Morrissey, Adam Cunney, Niall Fitzgerald; Jack Loughnane, Jack Morrissey, Stephen Whelan; Rory Lodge, Sean Glynn; Noah Quinlan, Ronan McGrady, Conor Byrne; Dylan Dawson, Paul Kennedy, Tom Hanifin.
Eoin McGrath for Whelan (h/t), Fionn Whelan for Quinlan (53), Cillian Davoren for Dawson (57), Donnacha Leahy for Byrne (57), Tom O’Regan for Lodge (57).
Peter Owens (Down).
