Senior Hurlers Beat Carlow To Register First Win In Leinster Championship

DUBLIN 1-24 

CARLOW 0-22 

Dublin picked up their first win of this year’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship when defeating Carlow by five points at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday evening.

Following their thrilling draw against Wexford six days previously, the Dubs received a boost of sorts in advance of the match with news of Antrim’s victory over Wexford in Corrigan Park.

That result seemed to inspire Carlow the most in initially as they produced an impressive first-half performance that saw them build a healthy 0-13 to 0-9 lead by half-time.

However, the Dubs were far more convincing after the break with a fortuitous goal by substitute Fergal Whitely in the 60^th minute the pivotal moment as they held on for a vital victory.

There was a suitably cagey beginning to events as Marty Kavanagh and Dónal Burke exchanged frees in the opening three minutes before the hosts edged ahead through a Ciarán Whelan score in the 5^th minute.

That score prompted a period of home pressure that yielded points through Jon Nolan and Kavanagh as the Dubs faced a four-point deficit by the 12^th minute.

Cian O’Sullivan briefly halted the Carlow momentum with Dublin’s first point from play a minute later and matters appeared to improve for the visitors as Danny Sutcliffe popped over in an instant.

However, the hosts replied with four answered scores to take control of matters as they moved six points clear by the start of the second quarter.

Dublin were struggling with their shot selection at this point so the contributions of Sean Currie and Burke helped settle the ship somewhat before Fiachra Fitzpatrick replied for Carlow with a fine point in the 24^th minute.

Sutcliffe added his second point of the half soon after but Dublin lacked fluidity and accuracy at this stage on their way to nine first-half wides as Kavanagh continued to punish indiscretions with two further frees.

Burke added a brace of frees of his own in the closing stages of the half, scores which were augmented by an excellent Daire Gray point, but Conor Kehoe and Kavanagh ensured the hosts enjoyed a deserved four-point advantage by the interval.

Conor Burke and Kehoe traded scores in the early stages of the second-half before the visitors began to seize the initiative through successive points from Dónal Burke (free) and Paddy Doyle.

The former added three further frees before the end of the third quarter with Gray and Conor Burke also on target as Dublin moved two points clear by the 48^th minute.

The hosts refused to accept their perceived fate as Kavanagh replied with four points from placed balls, while Whitely and Conor Burke were on target to leave the contest delicately poised at 0-19 apiece by the 58^th minute.

It was at this point that Dublin seized control as a Dónal Burke free edged his side in front before a lengthy delivery by Whitely found its way untouched into the back of the Carlow net.

Dublin made the most of this score by building a buffer thanks to excellent points from Chris Crummey and Eoghan O’Donnell and they made certain of the win thanks to points in the closing stages by substitute Dara Purcell and O’Donnell.

Scorers – Dublin: D Burke 0-9 (8f), F Whitely 1-1, C Burke 0-3; D Sutcliffe, D Gray, E O’Donell 0-2 each, C O’Sullivan, S Currie, D Purcell, P Doyle, C Crummey 0-1 each. Carlow: M Kavanagh 0-13 (9f, 2 ‘65’), J Nolan 0-3, C Kehoe 0-2, C Nolan, P Boland, F Fitzpatrick, C Whelan 0-1 each.

Dublin: S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, P Doyle; C Crummey, C Donohue, D Gray; M Grogan, C Burke; C O’Sullivan, E O’Donnell, S Currie; D Sutcliffe, D Burke, R Hayes. Subs: D Power for Grogan (h-t); F Whitely for Hayes (43); P Crummey for Currie (58); D Purcell for Sutcliffe (64); J Madden for C Burke (64).

Carlow: C Abbey; N Bolger, D Wall, P Doyle; J Kavanagh, K McDonald, T Lawlor; F Fitzpatrick, J McCullagh; C Kehoe, M Kavanagh, J Nolan; C Whelan, C Nolan, P Boland. Subs: JM Nolan for Whelan (48); R Coady for J Kavanagh (60); S Treacy for C Nolan (66); F O’Toole for Fitzpatrick (66).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).