SETU reach league final after nail-biting win
Adam Burgess operating at midfield for SETU Carlow gets ready to give a handpass against Trinity.
It is better to win a bad game rather than coming out on the losing end of a great match.
This was the sentiment of the Carlow SETU joint manager (alongside Ber Horohan), Chris Bolger, after he watched his side squeeze out a tight victory in this Higher Education Senior Football League Division 2 semi-final at the home campus on Wednesday.
“It was scrappy. We showed character to get through it. We weren’t fluid. It was a bit frustrating. We didn’t mind the football. We had enough chances and got through it on the scoreboard to get over the line,” he said.
The man who guided The Nire to a Senior Football Championship football final in Waterford this year, and who is a part of the Carlow management team alongside Joe Murphy, may have been a little bit unfair to both teams. The all-weather pitch was sodden after several hours of rain which cleared just before the throw-in. Both sides went at each other and each enjoyed spells of dominance over the course of the hour. It was thoroughly exciting even if it frayed at the nerves.
Two early Sam Ryan points into the Bagenalstown end of the ground got the Carlow college off the mark. Then they dropped off the pace and Ciaran Lennon and Jack Burke led the way as Trinity built up a six point lead. The visitors were unable to sustain it.
“Just going in before half-time, we had a crucial seven minutes to get ourselves back in the game. We were eight-two down with seven minutes to go into the half. Delighted to go in. Lucky in one way but unlucky in another,” noted Bolger.
Helped by a Sam Savage three-pointer, Carlow found themselves on level terms at 0-8 to 1-5 at the interval.
The third quarter remained tight. A Sam Ryan goal on 43 minutes pushed Carlow into what looked like a commanding five point lead but they conceded straightaway when Lennon skated through the home defence for a well-taken goal.
Extra time loomed when Trinity brought the deficit down to a single point. Carlow missed goal chances when points were there for the taking. From a home point of view, a two-point lead looked dangerous as the clock played down.
Defender, Brenan McDonald made a great block and paid the price when departing the field gingerly.
“Brendan 'Sticky' McDonald. He is very good. He does that all the time,” said an appreciative Bolger.
In their last attack, Trinity could have stolen the win but a shot skated just wide of the left-hand upright. Much to the joy of their supporters in the stand, Carlow survived. The significance was not lost on Bolger.
“Good to be back. There were a few away trips there. They are not pleasant. Nice to win in front of the home crowd, it is always a good spectacle,” he said.
S Ryan 1-4 (2fs), S Savage 1-1, T Gill 0-3, Adam Burgess 0-3 (1-2p), C McGraynor 0-1, R Harris 0-1.
C Lennon 1-5 (3fs), J Burke 0-4, R McErlean 0-1, T McCarroll 0-1, P Boyle 0-1, L Casserley 0-1, C Smith 0-1'45.
Conor Browne; Brendan McDonald, Kieran O’Sullivan, Mark Whelehan; Ethan Mountaine, Kevin Swayne, Eoghan Slattery; Ross Harris, Adam Burgess; Cian Deering, Ben Conry, Cormac Mann; Tommy Gill, Sam Savage, Sam Ryan.
Cormac McGraynor for Conry (10), Gavin O’Connor for Mann (44), Dylan Keane for Savage (55), Pauric Deering for McDonald (59).
James Reilly; Gavin Donohue, Tom Hughes, Michael McGrath; Padraig Boyle, Luke Casserley, Conal Cunningham; Tom McCarroll, Tynam Neville; David Duggan, Ciaran Lennon, Rory McErlean; Darragh Dempsey, Con Smith, Jack Burke.
Fintan Dignam for McErlean (38), Conor Leonard for Donohue (44), Liam Fenton for Duggan (52).
Lar Murphy
