Carlow 1-15
Derry 1-13
Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Round 3
At Celtic Park, Derry
Carlow have gone top of division 2A and preserved their 100% record with an impressive win over Derry. Carlow can thank goalkeeper Kevin Kehoe for pulling off a fantastic save from a Ruairi Convery penalty with ten minutes remaining to stave off a driven Derry team.
Carlow did not have it all their own way by any means and when Brendan Douban blasted a shot to the back of the Carlow goal after just four minutes things looked bleak against the unbeaten Derry. John Michael had traded scores with Convery prior to the goal but Derry looked to have hit the ground running. Convery added another free and Alan Grant scored from play to give Derry a five point lead with only ten minutes gone.
Carlow kept Derry in sight with two frees from Martin Kavanagh and a point from play form Craig Doyle but Derry continued to keep the scoreboard ticking with Convery really coming into his own with two frees and an expertly struck 65. Douban got his first score in over thirty minutes to give Derry a four point lead with only stoppage time to be played in the first half. Carlow overturned the ball in midfield, swiftly moved it forward to Martin Kavanagh who found Seamus Murphy and he struck it low to beat Darrel McDermott in the Derry goal to bring Carlow back within one point at the break.
Convery got his sixth score of the game at the start of the second half quickly followed by a Brendan Douban point but then Carlow kicked into a higher gear. Points from Craig Doyle, Ed Byrne , Martin Kavanagh and Seamus Murphy in little over four minutes gave Carlow the lead in Celtic Park. Convery responded with a score but it would be their last for fifteen minutes, the momentum was with Carlow. Martin Kavanagh added another two frees and David English got a fine long range score to give Carlow a three point lead.
With ten minutes remaining Convery drove towards goal and as he tried to kick the ball he was fouled and referee Owen Elliot (Antrim) gave the penalty. Convery struck it but Kevin Kehoe pulled off a vital save, pushing the ball onto the post. Minutes later Diarmuid Byrne put Carlow up by four only for Convery to cancel it out with another free. Kavanagh restored the Carlow lead to four with what was Carlow’s last score. McGuigan and Convery scored late on for Derry but it wouldn’t be enough. Carlow emerged victorious on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-13. Next up for Carlow is the visit of Kerry to Netwatch Cullen Park next Sunday at 12pm.
Carlow Scorers
Martin Kavanagh 0-7(5f)
Seamus Murphy 1-1
Craig Doyle 0-2
John Michael Nolan 0-2
Diarmuid Byrne 0-1
Edward Byrne 0-1
David English 0-1
Carlow Team
Kevin Kehoe; Richard Coady, James Kinsella, Alan Corcoran; David English (0-1), John Rogers, Ger Coady; John Michael Nolan (0-2), Diarmuid Byrne (0-1); Jack Kavanagh, Edward Byrne (0-1), Craig Wall; Martin Kavanagh (0-7, 5f), Seamus Murphy (1-1), Craig Doyle (0-2). Subs Edward Coady for G Wall, H/T; Eoin Doyle for C Doyle, 63mins; Shane Kavanagh, J Kinsella, 66mins; Andrew Gaule for G Coady, 71mins.
Division 2A Results
Derry 1-13 Carlow 1-15
Wicklow 2-12 London 3-12
Kerry 0-12 Westmeath 3-18
Division 2A Table
P W L D F A POINTS
1 CARLOW 3 3 0 0 65 32 6
2 DERRY 4 2 1 1 64 63 5
3 WESTMEATH 3 2 1 0 72 44 4
4 KERRY 3 1 1 1 52 50 3
5 LONDON 4 1 3 0 51 78 2
6 WICKLOW 3 0 3 0 36 73 0