Mighty Mouse saves the day
Martin Kavanagh struck a late equalising score for Carlow against Offaly in Tullamore Photo: Pat Ahern
A long-range free from Marty Kavanagh gave Carlow a share of the points in this Allianz Hurling League Division1B game in Tullamore on Saturday.
Offaly started best with a point a piece from Daniel Bourke and David Nally (free). In reply, the home side’s defence was opened up on five minutes and Jake Doyle took the scoring pass to force the ball over the line from close range.
Offaly didn’t regain the lead until the 25th minute as the sides were subsequently level on seven occasions. Two frees on the trot from Nally and Daniel Bourke’s third point from play pushed Offaly into a 0-13 to 1-7 lead at the break.
As the second half got underway, it was always shaping up to be close. Perhaps if Oisin Kelly had managed to find the Carlow net on 37 minutes, the game might have got away from the visitors. Instead, it turned out to be a tight affair with the home side holding on to their lead and Carlow fighting tooth and nail to get something out of the game.
As the duel headed towards injury time, Killian Sampson’s second point looked set to give Offaly both points. Carlow had other ideas and after winning a tussle for possession on their own end line, they forced a free inside their own half. Up stepped Kavanagh and from the moment the sliotar left his stick, it was always going over the crossbar. The visitors had struck late and deserved a share of the points.
D Nally 0-9 (8fs), C Mitchell 0-4, D Bourke 0-3, K Sampson 0-2, C King 0-1
M Kavanagh 0-12 (fs), Jake Doyle 1-0, James Doyle 0-2 K McDonald, C Whelan 0-1 each.
Mark Troy; Padraig Cantwell, Ciaran Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, David King; Cathal King, Jason Sampson; Killian Sampson, Daniel Bourke, Oisin Kelly; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, David Nally. Subs: Brian Duignan for J Sampson (45), Colin Spain for Ravenhill (48), Sam Burke for King (54).
Brian Tracey; Fiach O’Toole, Paul Doyle, Tony Lawlor; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Dion Wall, Jack McCullagh; Kevin McDonald, Evan Kealy; Jon Nolan, Marty Kavanagh, Ciaran Whelan; Jake Doyle, Paddy Boland, James Doyle. Subs: Conor Kehoe for Whelan (blood 11), Kehoe for Jake Doyle (h/t), Jack Treacy for O’Toole (h/t), Donagh Murphy for Fitzpatrick (65), Ted Joyce for Nolan (69).
Colm McDonald (Antrim)
