Leinster SFC: Wicklow impress against Carlow
Padraig O’Toole of Wicklow scores his side's first goal during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Carlow and Wicklow at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Leinster Senior Football Championship Round 1
Wicklow 2-15 Carlow 1-7
By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park
Wicklow made up for a disappointing league campaign when they had an emphatic Leinster Senior Football Championship First Round win over Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
The home team started well with Colm Hulton knocking over a two-pointer from play. The experienced Dean Healy got Wicklow off the mark with a point. With the aid of the breeze Carlow created the better chances but couldn’t turn superior possession into scores.
For Wicklow, Eoin Darcy converted a free on 13 minutes and from there, the visitors looked to be the better side.
In goalkeeper, Mark Jackson, they have a player who is not afraid to come out field and get into the opposition half. He scored a fabulous two-pointer from play into a stiff breeze to give his side a morale boosting three-point lead.
Liam Gavin converted two frees for Carlow but right on the half time whistle,
Jackson landed a free from outside the Dee to leave the visitors 0-8 to 0-4 in front at the interval.
When the game resumed, Darcy added a point from a placed ball. Jackson chalked up another two-point free. This was followed by a goal from Padraig O’Toole when he took his chance well after being put through by Oisin McGraynor. In a short spell, Wicklow had built themselves a ten point lead.
Carlow hit back and Jamie Clarke’s looping shot from the left at the scoreboard end dipped under the crossbar into the net. Mikey Bambrick added a Carlow point to test Wicklow mettle
Any doubts that arose at that stage were answered as Darcy, Healy and Padraig O’Toole raised white flags. Chris Blake scored two points from Carlow but it was never going to be enough. They also lost captain, Mikey Bambrick, to a second yellow but it was immaterial late on.
McGraynor’s late Wicklow goal emphasised the dominance of the visitors as they looked forward to a second round game at home to Dublin next time out.
Scorers for Wicklow: M Jackson 0-6 (1-2p 2-2pfs), P O’Toole 1-1, O McGraynor 1-1 (f), , E Darcy 0-3 (fs), D Healy 0-2, C O’Brien, M Nolan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Carlow: J Clarke 1-0, C Hulton (1-2pf), L Gavin (2fs), C Blake 0-2 each M Bambrick 0-1.
WICKLOW: Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Conall Ó Gallchobhair, Gavin Fogarty; Cian Deering, Matt Nolan, Jonathan Carlin; Dean Healy, Jack Hardy; Jack Kirwan, Padraig O’Toole, Christopher O’Brien; Oisin McGraynor, Mark Kenny, Eoin Darcy.
Subs: Eoin Murtagh for O Gallochobhair (52), Joe Prendergast for Deering (54), Sean Murphy for Kenny (61), Cathal Baker for Kirwan (69), Liam O’Neill for Carlin (69).
CARLOW: Ben McCarron; Colin Byrne, Niall Roche, Paddy McDonnell; John Phiri, Dara Curran, Padhraig Bolger; Mark Furey, Conor Doyle; Lee Walker, Colm Hulton, Mikey Bambrick; Liam Gavin, Eoghan Ruth, Ross Dunphy.
Subs: John Murphy for Roche (41), Jamie Clarke for Gavin (44), Chris Blake for Walker (47), Kyle Nolan for Ruth (55), Aaron Amond for Dunphy (66).
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary).
