Six of the best - Carlow start McDonagh Cup in style
Chris Nolan celebrates scoring one his three goals in the McDonagh Cup win over Down Photo: Pat Ahern
Joe McDonagh Cup First Round By Kieran Murphy Chris Nolan scored three goals as Carlow got their Joe McDonagh Cup challenge off to the perfect start with an excellent second half performance at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday. Down led early on but three Marty Kavanagh points on the trot were vital as Carlow built momentum.
Chris Nolan scored the first of his goals on 29 minutes when taking a pass from Doyle, he found the bottom right hand corner of the net.
The visitors were unlucky not to get through themselves when Tim Prenter must have thought he was going to find a three-pointer but Carlow keeper, Brian Tracey, saved with his foot. At the interval, Carlow led 1-11 to 0-10.
McGrattan converted an early second half free and the gauntlet had been thrown down. The home side reacted well and when a long delivery found Doyle he ran down the left, made space for himself and beat Stephen Keith with a low shot. Minutes later Chris Nolan took a perfect pass from Marty Kavanagh and duly found the net.
The Barrowsiders were in full flowing mode at this stage.
The goals followed with Chris Nolan completing his hat-trick. Paddy Boland also ran at the defence and another green flag was raised. Ted Joyce completed the six-goal haul in the final quarter as Carlow eased to a simple win which even they themselves would have not expected only an hour earlier.
Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Jack McCullagh; Paidi O’Shea, Kevin McDonald, Evan Kealy; James Doyle (1-3), Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-2); Jon Nolan (0-3), Ciaran Whelan (0-3), Conor Kehoe (0-2); Chris Nolan (3-1), Marty Kavanagh (0-6fs), Paddy Boland (1-1). Subs: Ted Joyce (1-0) for Kavanagh (55), Donagh Murphy (0-2) for Whelan (64), Fiach O’Toole for Doyle (68), Jack Treacy for C Nolan (68), John Doyle for Kehoe (69).
Stephen Keith; Niall McFarland, Tom Murray Matt Conlan; Marc Fisher, Caolan Taggart (0-1), Liam Savage; Donal Hughes, Phelim Savage; Eoghan Sands (0-1), Chris Egan (0-2), Pearse Og McCrickard (0-4); Tom McGrattan (0-8 2-65s 6fs), Finn Turpin, Tim Prenter (0-1).Subs: Paul Sheehan 0-3 (1-sl) for L Savage (43), Ben Taggart for P Savage (43), Shea Pucci for McCrickard (55), Daithi Sands for N McFarland (55), Conor Cassidy for Murray (63).
Colm McDonald (Antrim).
