Carlow finish 12th after a good Kennedy Cup
Carlow's Tadgh Smith Tumelty in action against the Midlands League. Photo: Keith Wiseman
The Carlow and District Juvenile League brought their 2026 Kennedy Cup campaign to a close with a 12th-place finish at the University of Limerick, following a narrow defeat to Wexford in their 11th/12th place play-off on the final day of the prestigious Under-14 tournament. While the final placing will have been a disappointment, there were plenty of positive moments across the week that underlined the development and resilience of David O’Connor’s side.
Carlow’s final outing saw them take on a sharp Wexford outfit, who struck early and never relinquished their grip entirely. Andrew Cash opened the scoring inside two minutes, capitalising on a quick start to put Carlow immediately on the back foot. However, to their credit, Carlow settled into the game and responded well to the early setback. Their efforts were rewarded when Cody Dowling produced a composed and well-taken finish to restore parity.
The sides were evenly matched for long periods, but Wexford began to assert themselves as the contest wore on. Cash proved decisive, popping up once again with six minutes remaining to secure victory for his side. He nearly completed a hat-trick late on, only to be denied by a superb last-ditch intervention from Cathal English, whose commitment epitomised Carlow’s defensive resolve throughout the tournament.
Earlier in the week, Carlow’s campaign had shown promise, particularly in the group stages where a combination of grit and timely goals ensured progression to the secondary competition. Their opening game against Limerick Desmond was played in extremely difficult weather conditions, with heavy rain making football challenging for both sides. Limerick Desmond took the lead through Raymond Lynch in the 15th minute, but Carlow responded admirably. Connor Moore found the equaliser to secure a crucial 1-1 draw — a result that would ultimately prove vital in shaping their path through the competition.
Their meeting with South Belfast, who went on to top the group, proved more challenging. Played in similarly testing conditions, Carlow found themselves under sustained pressure and conceded four goals by the 53rd minute. While the result seemed beyond them at that stage, Carlow showed commendable character to rally late on, with Kyle Lillis striking twice to reduce the deficit. Those goals would prove significant in the standings, demonstrating the importance of persistence even in adversity.
Carlow’s strongest group performance came in their final outing against West Waterford East Cork, where they delivered a composed and effective display to secure a 3-1 win. Dylan Prendergast opened the scoring after 24 minutes, giving Carlow a deserved lead at the break. West Waterford East Cork responded early in the second half through Brideview’s Sam Johnson, but Carlow maintained their composure. Odhran Nolan restored their advantage on 49 minutes, and Ruairi O’Brien added a third goal four minutes from time to seal the victory. That win ensured Carlow finished second in their group and carried momentum into the Kennedy Cup Bowl competition.
Carlow produced one of their standout performances of the week to overcome a highly fancied Midlands League side and secure a place in the Kennedy Cup Bowl semi-final. Midlands entered the contest as strong favourites, having narrowly missed out on qualification for the main cup competition. However, Carlow rose to the occasion with a disciplined and determined display.
The early stages saw Midlands apply pressure, but Carlow defended resolutely and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. They almost took the lead inside ten minutes when Devyn Morrissey delivered an inviting cross from the right, which was met by Reece Power. His header appeared destined for the net before a superb save tipped the ball onto the crossbar.
Having weathered the early pressure, Carlow grew into the game and began to impose themselves. The decisive moment arrived just after half-time. Odhran Nolan reacted quickest to a loose ball on the right, showing composure to guide his finish into the far corner. It was a clinical strike and one that ultimately proved enough.
From that point on, Carlow displayed excellent game management, defending deep when required and working tirelessly across the pitch to nullify Midlands’ attacking threats. Their organisation and work rate were key, and they held firm to secure an impressive victory and a place in the last four.
Carlow’s Bowl journey came to an end in the semi-final, where they fell to a strong Waterford Schoolboy League side in difficult weather conditions. Despite the result, the performance once again highlighted the commitment and potential within the group.
Playing in driving rain and strong winds on an all-weather surface, both teams had to contend with challenging conditions. Carlow made the brighter start and created the first meaningful opportunity of the game. Within four minutes, Logan Doran delivered a dangerous ball from the left, which Odhran Nolan cleverly knocked down into the path of Dylan Prendergast. The forward struck a first-time volley that narrowly cleared the crossbar, signalling Carlow’s intent.
Carlow continued to press and matched their opponents across the pitch during the opening exchanges. Their defensive unit stood firm, while their goalkeeper produced a fine save to deny Dale Redmond midway through the half. However, as the interval approached, Waterford began to gain a foothold.
The breakthrough came at a difficult moment for Carlow, deep into first-half stoppage time. A cross from the left found Fionn Fell, who converted from close range to give Waterford the lead — a blow that did not fully reflect Carlow’s efforts up to that point.
To their credit, Carlow responded positively after the restart and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. They came agonisingly close when Nolan unleashed a powerful effort from distance, only for Waterford goalkeeper Rory Kirwan to produce an excellent save to keep his side in front.
That moment proved pivotal. Within minutes, Waterford doubled their advantage as Fareed Alabi cut in from the right and finished clinically from ten yards. The second goal left Carlow with a significant uphill task.
Despite the setback, Carlow continued to battle with determination and never allowed their standards to drop. Their work rate and attitude remained impressive throughout, even as conditions worsened and the clock ticked down.
In the end, while the result brought their Bowl run to a close, Carlow can take considerable encouragement from their performances over the course of the week. They demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and flashes of real quality, and their experiences at the Kennedy Cup will undoubtedly stand to them as they continue their development in the game.
Jack Scully, Ruairi O'Brien, Sam Traynor, Cathal English, Reece Power, Ollie Nolan, Tadhg Smith Tumelty, Devyn Morrissey, Dylan Prendergast, Connor Moore, Logan Doran, Hugh O'Brien, Conor Corcoran, Cody Dowling, Pauric Nolan, Tommy Keating, John Caleb Modesta, Kyle Lillis, Odhran Nolan, Daragh Foley
David O'Connor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Eamonn McIvor, Leah Mullins, Chris Collins, Bridget O'Connor, Dave Cowman, Bob Howson, Patrick Nolan
