Carlow pulled off a major surprise in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Netwatch Cullen Park when they held Kilkenny to a draw in an entertaining encounter.
Summer had finally arrived and the Kilkenny crowd, which surely outnumbered the home supporters, could only stand and look on as Carlow matched them in most areas around the field.
Not for the first time in his career, the pressure was on Marty Kavanagh when he stood over a 50-metre free to the right of the posts. Time was up so this was Carlow's final chance.
For a moment it looked as if his effort was going to go outside the posts, but to a huge cheer from the Carlow supporters, the sliotar curled just inside the posts. A draw for Carlow against their neighbours was certainly a result to savour.
The pre-match favourites got off to a great start when Martin Keoghan opened the scoring with a point and Owen Wall followed up with a fine goal breaking in at speed from the left. That came about when Carlow lost the ball at midfield and Kilkenny swept forward with intent. It was a lesson learned and one rarely repeated for the remainder of the contest.
Chris Nolan’s seventh-minute point for the home side got them off the mark and while they trailed by six points approaching half-time, they were still causing problems for Kilkenny, who had Killian Doyle sent off for an off the ball foul in that first period.
Shortly before that, Billy Ryan had a goal chance but the Carlow defence crowded out the ball-carrier and the opportunity was lost. Also in the opening half, Cian Kenny knocked over two points from play for the Cats.
Three points each from Chris Nolan and Kavanagh kept Carlow in touch though and at the interval Kilkenny led 1-11 to 0-09.
On the resumption, a Fiachra Fitzpatrick point lifted Carlow players and followers alike.
While the home team struggled at times with Kilkenny’s short-passing and possession game, they were not standing back.
Possibly if Tom Phelan had found the net with 17 minutes to go, the score would have settled Kilkenny but Brian Tracey, the Carlow keeper, made a great block with Keoghan unable to convert the rebound.
Carlow themselves almost had a three-pointer but Kavanagh was crowded out by an alert Kilkenny defence.
The Carlow sharp-shooter had a hand in his side’s goal that arrived soon after though as his shot was blocked and Conor Kehoe was on hand to force the sliotar over the line.
The crowd were in full voice now and got behind the home players. This time there would be no honourable defeat.
In the final minute of normal time, Donagh Murphy levelled for Carlow but TJ Reid responded with two points to seemingly kill off their challenge.
The home side refused to contemplate defeat. James Doyle was on hand to make it a one-point game for Carlow and on 75 minutes, a moment of petulance from Kilkenny player Tom Phelan saw a free being awarded when the ball was thrown away after Carlow had won a side-line.
The pressure was all on Kavanagh. Once again, he stood up to it to secure a famous point for Tom Mullally's side.
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Niall Bolger; Tony Lawlor, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-02); Sean Joyce, Richard Coady; Jon Nolan, Chris Nolan (0-04), Marty Kavanagh (0-09. 0-08fs, 0-01 65); Jack McCullagh, John Michael Nolan (0-01), Scott Treacy.
Subs: Conor Kehoe (1-00) for Treacy (ht), Paddy Boland (0-01) for John Michael Nolan (ht), Ciaran Whelan for Joyce (ht), James Doyle (0-01) for Coady (50), Donagh Murphy (0-01) for Joe Nolan (62).
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor (0-01), Killian Doyle; David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran, Shane Murphy (0-01); Cian Kenny (0-03), Jordan Molloy; Martin Keoghan (0-03), John Donnelly, Tom Phelan (0-02); Billy Ryan (0-01), TJ Reid (0-06, 0-04fs), Owen Wall (1-03).
Subs: Tommy Walsh for Ryan (ht), Conor Fogarty for Molloy (42), Billy Drennan for Wall (58).
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
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