Joe McDonagh Cup: Carlow reach decider

Joe McDonagh Cup

Carlow 5-27 London 0-11

By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park

Carlow are back in a third Joe McDonagh Cup final. They made sure of their place in a Croke Park decider on June 6 following a splendid second half performance.

The home side struggled in the opening half making a series of errors. Possibly mindful of what was at stake, passes went astray initially. Yet, London were unable to capitalise. They themselves needed to ask Carlow some questions, but eight wides in the first half was a huge factor for them.

Carlow still managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with Marty Kavanagh converting three 65s and four frees as his side led 0-11 to 0-8 at the interval. Ronan McGrady landed three frees for London and Jack Loughnane was on target with a side-line cut. At full-forward, Paul Kennedy also scored two nice points under pressure.

The home side got off to a great start in the second half, when, only a minute in, Donagh Murphy drew the penalty and Kavanagh made no mistake shooting low and hard to the keeper’s left. To add to London’s woe, they lost Rory Lodge to a black card.

As Carlow opened up, Kavanagh added two further points and Murphy also raised a white flag as they started to make full use of their wind advantage. Full-back, Dion Wall, also pointed while goalkeeper, Brian Tracey, must surely have been disappointed to see his opposite number pluck the ball from going over the crossbar when he looked certain to raise a white flag.

Jack Treacy scored the second Carlow goal, but the London keeper, Mark Kilgannon was unlucky as he had brought off two point blank saves.

After that the home side were in full control. Conor Kehoe scored two goals in quick succession and Kavanagh also found the net. London did create a number of half goal chances late on, but Carlow were in no mood to concede and were happy to see out the game without injury.

Scorers for Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 2-11 (3-65s, 5fs), Conor Kehoe 2-0, Chris Nolan 0-4, Jack Treacy 1-0, James Doyle 0-3, John Michael Nolan 0-2, Donagh Murphy 0-2, Fiach O’Toole, Dion Wall, Evan Kealy, Richard Coady, Lorcan Doyle 0-1 each.

Scorers for London: Ronan McGrady 0-5 (5fs), Paul Kennedy 0-3, Sean Glynn, Dylan Dawson, Jack Loughnane (sideline) 0-1 each.

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Jack McCullagh; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Ciaran Whelan; Jack Treacy, Marty Kavanagh, James Doyle; Donagh Murphy, Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan.

Subs: Fiach O’Toole for J Nolan (53), Lorcan Doyle for Whelan (55), Jake Nolan for Murphy (57), John Michael Nolan for C Nolan (59), Richard Coady for Kealy (62).

London: Mark Kilgannon; Barry Morrissey, Adam Cunney, Niall Fitzgerald; Jack Loughnane, Jack Morrissey, Stephen Whelan; Rory Lodge, Sean Glynn; Noah Quinlan, Ronan McGrady, Conor Byrne; Dylan Dawson, Paul Kennedy, Tom Hanifin.

Subs: Eoin McGrath for Whelan (HT), Fionn Whelan for Quinlan (53), Cillian Davoren for Dawson (57), Donnacha Leahy for Byrne (57), Tom O’Regan for Lodge (57).

Referee: Peter Owens (Down).