Nolan leads the way as Carlow defeat Waterford in National Hurling league

Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B

Carlow 2-21 Waterford 1-19

 Carlow recorded a first even senior hurling competitive win over Waterford with this National Hurling League 1B second round victory on Sunday at Netwatch Cullen Park.

While there might be an element of surprise surrounding the home victory, it was a totally deserved success. Carlow’s success came from starting well, absorbing the pressure midway and then finishing strong.

The eventual winners led 1-3 to 0-0 s after only four minutes with Chris Nolan scoring the goal when taking an accurate side-line cut from Marty Kavanagh. Points from Jack Prendergast and Tom Barron should have settled the Decies but Carlow stood up to them and continued to set the pace.

At the interval, the home side led 1-10 to 0-9 and no doubt prepared themselves for a Waterford attempted comeback.

Early in the second half when Conor Sheahan and Padraig Fitzgerald raised white flags for the visitors, it should have given them a platform to drive on. Carlow didn’t read that script and substitute, Paddy Boland, picked off a point from distance.

Waterford then took a one-point lead when Jamie Barron fed Sean Walsh and the left-half forward found the top corner of the net at the scoreboard end of the ground. With 28 minutes to go, the visitors never kicked on and Carlow kept their shape and composure. While Kavanagh continued to knock over the frees, other players such as Jack McCullagh, Ciaran Whelan and Boland all raised white flags.

In reply, Patrick Fitzgerald, Padraig Fitzgerald and Jamie Barron all featured on the scoresheet for Waterford but they could never put Carlow away. Instead, with just over five minutes to go, Chris Nolan raided down the left. While the shot was not perfect, keeper, Shaun O’Brien, could only get his hurley on the sliotar but the ball crossed the line to seal Carlow’s victory.

Scorers: 

Carlow: M Kavanagh 0-10 (65 6fs), Chris Nolan 2-3, P Boland, James Doyle 0-2 each, K McDonald, Jack McCullagh, C Whelan, J Nolan 0-1each 

Waterford: P Fitzgerald 0-6 (5fs), J Barron, P Fitzgerald (1f) 0-4 each, C Sheahan 0-3, S Walsh 1-0, T Barron, J Prendergast 0-1 each.

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paidi O’Shea, Dion Wall, Tony Lawlor; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; James Doyle, Ciaran Whelan; John Doyle, Marty Kavanagh, Lorcan Doyle; Conor Kehoe, Jack Treacy, Chris Nolan. Subs: Subs: Paddy Boland for Treacy (h/t), Jon Nolan for Kehoe (h/t), Ted Joyce for John Doyle (53), Donagh Murphy for Fitzpatrick (62), Evan Kealy for Lawlor (65).

WATERFORD: Shaun O’Brien; Seamus Fitzgerald, Mark Fitzgerald, Ian Kenny; Michael Kiely, Tom Barron, Michael Mullaney; Conor Sheahan, Jack Prendergast; Padraig Fitzgerald, Jamie Barron, Sean Walsh; Kevin Mahony, Shane Bennett, Patrick Fitzgerald. Subs: Patrick Curran for Mahony (h/t), Conor Keane for S Fitzgerald (h/t), Martin Power for Mullaney (59), Charlie Treen for Bennett (59), Thomas Douglas for Walsh (65).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).