Dublin were pushed all the way in this Leinster Senior Hurling Championship second round game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday as Dublin struck for the only three-pointer of the game in the final quarter.
Up to that the game hung on a knife-edge and even the goal was of the lucky variety. The home side had led by four points at half-time and while Dublin got their noses in front in the final stages. It was a tame 59th minute shot from Fergal Whitely that finally broke the Carlow resistance.
When the Dublin substitute took possession out on the left, he was surely going for a point but the ball never looked like going over the bar. Instead the sliotar arrowed its way towards the posts and dipped just under the crossbar as both Dublin and Carlow players tried to secure possession.
There were calls for a square ball but the match officials let the three-pointer stand. As Carlow reeled from the concession, Dublin half-backs, Eoghan O’Donnell and Chris Crummey subsequently raised white flags to kill off any thoughts of the home side getting back into the game.
Carlow gave as good as they got in the first half. From the outset, the Barrowsiders had harried and harassed the pre-match favourites. Dublin hit nine wides in the opening half and not all were down to just bad shooting. Marty Kavanagh led the Carlow attack scoring six points from placed balls and play. Jon Nolan fired over two fine points for Carlow while Conor Kehoe, Fiachra Fitzpatrick and Paddy Boland were also on target.
As the Dubliners tried to raise their game, they made a series of errors, rifling a quickly-taken free over the side-line while Carlow also intercepted a number of moves to turn defence into attack. The home side’s interval lead of 0-13 to 0-09 was fully deserved.
In the early stages of the second half, Dublin keeper Sean Brennan brought off a brilliant diving save from Conor Kehoe. Keeping a clean sheet was as important for Dublin as scoring the game’s only three-pointer.
It was probably the home side’s best chance and from there, Dublin slowly but surely gained the upper-hand. The goal was the killer blow but Conor Burke’s three second half points were vital too. Dublin enterprise was rewarded too, with three of their starting backs all scoring from play.
Dublin will be happy to leave with the win but they will surely be looking for huge improvements as the championship progresses with huge tests to come against Kilkenny and Galway.
Dublin: Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle (0-01); Chris Crummey (0-01), Conor Donohoe, Eoghan O’Donnell (0-02); Mark Grogan, Conor Burke (0-03); Ronan Hayes, Donal Burke (0-09 (8fs), Daire Gray (0-02); Danny Sutcliffe (0-02), Cian O’Sullivan (0-01), Sean Currie (0-01).
Subs: Darragh Power for Grogan (h/t), Fergal Whitely (1-01) for Hayes (42), Paul Crummey for Currie (58), Dara Purcell (0-01) for Sutcliffe (63), James Madden for O’Donnell (63).
Carlow: Ciarán Abbey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Niall Bolger; Jack Kavanagh, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-01); Ciaran Whelan (0-01), Jack McCullagh; Jon Nolan (0-03), Tony Lawlor, Marty Kavanagh (0-13 65 10fs); Conor Kehoe (0-02), Chris Nolan (0-01), Paddy Boland (0-01).
Subs: John Michael Nolan for Whelan (48), Richard Coady for J Kavanagh (60), Fiach O’Toole for Fitzpatrick (65), Scott Treacy for C Nolan (65).
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).
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