Allianz HL D1B: Dublin win again to secure promotion

​Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Dublin 0-34 Carlow 2-14

By Paul Keane at Netwatch Cullen Park

Florence Ensch, the resident Ambassador of Luxembourg to Ireland, was a special guest for this game, her very first live game of hurling.

A piece in the match programme explained how Carlow and Luxembourg have 'an important connection that dates back over 1,300 years', hence the Ambassador's interest in attending a game.

She was treated to an exciting spectacle and while Carlow failed to win, ultimately slumping to a defeat that confirmed their relegation from Division 1B, they went down fighting.

Goals from Martin Kavanagh and Chris Nolan just before half time cut the deficit to just three points at that stage and hinted at a potential home win.

Dublin were too strong though and pulled clear with a strong second-half display, securing the win that locked down promotion for them back to the top flight.

They will play in Division 1A next season, along with Clare, and the two counties will meet in this season's Division 1B final on the weekend of April 4/5.

Dublin didn't manage a goal on the evening, mainly due to the excellence of Kyle Foley in goals for Carlow, but 34 points amounted to heavy scoring nevertheless with 0-4 of that coming from Fergal Whitely.

John Hetherton and Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing registered 0-4 from play each as well, while Dublin had a whopping 15 different scorers in total.

The permutations were pretty simple for both before this Round 7 encounter - win at all costs.

Hosts Carlow gave Richard Coady his first start of the year but while he wore number 13, he dropped back immediately to play as a sweeper.

But it was basic errors that cost Carlow initially, the Joe McDonagh Cup outfit losing three possessions which led to the first three scores of the game for Dublin, last season's All-Ireland semi-finalists.

Whitely then drilled back-to-back scores to leave Dublin 0-5 to no score up and cruising.

A Brian Hayes score stretched the gap to six points as Dublin hit the 20-minute mark with a 0-10 to 0-4 advantage.

Dublin, mixing it up nicely between a running game dominated by the likes of Hayes and the effective Darragh Power, and a more route one approach to target-man Hetherton, looked entirely at their ease.

With 32 minutes played, they led by 0-16 to 0-8, thanks in part to five points in a row from Cian O'Sullivan, Hetherton, Whitely, Dara Purcell and Power.

It looked ominous at that stage for Carlow but they suddenly burst into life, closing out the half with two terrific goals.

Martin Kavanagh nailed the first in the 33rd minute, capitalising on an advantage from the ref to try a pot shot from 25 metres which flew into the top corner.

Chris Nolan's strike deep into stoppage time was from the top drawer too, the Carlow captain bursting through from the right and lashing beyond Seán Brennan.

It left Dublin just 0-18 to 2-9 up at half time and with news filtering through of Down beating Antrim in Newry, Carlow had real hope now.

The sense of optimism didn't last long though as visitors Dublin restarted with six of the first seven points in the second half to put significant daylight between the teams again.

Ó Dúlaing came on for Dónal Burke at the break and scored three of the points from frees.

Carlow needed at least another goal but it never arrived as Dublin overwhelmed Pat Bennett's side with their crisp and tidy running game, allied to their ability to pick off long-range scores.

Dublin looked more likely to hit the net again as Hetherton, O'Sullivan and sub Davy Keogh all drew saves from Foley who was making his first League start this season in goals for Carlow.

The big positive for Carlow in the second half was the arrival of Jake Nolan for his debut as a sub, the Kildavin/Clonegal man pointing in his very first play.

Dublin scorers: Fergal Whitely 0-4, John Hetherton 0-4, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing 0-4 (0-3f), Cian O'Sullivan 0-3 (0-1f), Darragh Power 0-3, Dara Purcell 0-2, Conor Burke 0-2, Paddy Doyle 0-2, Chris Crummey 0-2, Conor Donohoe 0-2, Davy Keogh 0-2, Brian Hayes 0-1, Dónal Burke 0-1 (0-1f), Paddy Smyth 0-1, Conor Groarke 0-1

Carlow scorers: Martin Kavanagh 1-3 (0-2f), Chris Nolan 1-2 (0-1f), Donagh Murphy 0-2, Ciarán Whelan 0-2, Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-2, Ted Joyce 0-1, Fiach O'Toole 0-1, Jake Nolan 0-1.

Dublin: Seán Brennan; Eoghan O'Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Conor McHugh; Conor Burke, Chris Crummey, Andrew Dunphy; Paddy Doyle, Brian Hayes; Fergal Whitely, Dónal Burke, Darragh Power; Dara Purcell, John Hetherton, Cian O'Sullivan.

Subs: Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing for Donal Burke h/t, Conor Groarke for Dunphy h/t, Seán Gallagher for Conor Burke 42-45, Conor Donohoe for Purcell 53, Davy Keogh for Hayes 61, Gallagher for Crummey 67.

Carlow: Kyle Foley; Conaill Fitzpatrick, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Fiach O'Toole; Ciarán Whelan, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jack Treacy, John Doyle, Donagh Murphy; Richard Coady, Martin Kavanagh, Chris Nolan.

Subs: Ted Joyce for John Doyle h/t, Conor Kehoe for Murphy 50, James Doyle for Kavanagh 50, Colm Beck for Kealy 54, Jake Nolan for Whelan 57.

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway).