Carlow senior football team manager Joe Murphy. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup Group Four
Carlow 2-16 (2-1-14) Wexford 1-19 (1-2-15)
By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park
A brilliant comeback from Carlow salvaged a point in this Tailteann Cup second round game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday. Trailing by four points in injury time, the home side looked destined for defeat.
Then John Phiri came forward from his half-back position and slotted a point to leave only three in it. One last attack saw Ross Dunphy fouled just inside the big square and after consultation with his umpires, referee David Murnane, awarded the penalty.
Going for power Carlow midfielder, Conor Doyle, beat Darragh Brooks to give Carlow a well-deserved draw.
The home side had started well with points from Ross Dunphy, John Murphy and Kevin Murphy (free). The visitors replied and an Eoghan Nolan two-pointer saw them get on the scoreboard. Sean Nolan added a point to level. It was end to end stuff. Carlow were unlucky to see Conor Crowley’s rocket fly off the upright.
Kevin O’Grady was Wexford’s most dangerous forward ending the half with three points from play. Sean Nolan also scored raised two white flags for the visitors.
A 23rd minute raid by Mikey Bambrick almost yielded a Carlow goal, but the woodwork intervened as it did when the home side saw a two-point attempt come back off the right-hand upright. He did the same in the second half and at that point it looked as if the home side were destined never to find a three-pointer.
Wexford led 0-9 to 0-8 at the break. Even though Nolan extended that lead with a free early in the second half, Carlow hit back and Niall Hickey landed a two-pointer from play. Sean Murphy and Ciaran Moran also found the posts.
The visitors' turned up the heat and were rewarded with two Nolan points. Their goal came from Martin O’Connor when he found the bottom left-hand corner of the net on 45 minutes. Liam O’Connor, Liam Coleman and Jack Higgins points put Wexford six clear with six minutes left on the clock.
Carlow hopes rose a little when Ross Dunphy got in behind the Wexford defence for a goal. The Model County came back, but missed chances which might have killed off the Carlow challenge. A loose ball slid just outside the Carlow left-hand upright.
The resultant 45 was not converted into a score. Wexford paid for this as Carlow mounted two last attacks to find a way to maintain their unbeaten record in the competition.
Scorers for Carlow: R Dunphy, C Doyle (1-0 pen, 45) 1-1 each, K Murphy 0-3 (3fs), N Hickey (2pt), M Bambrick, C Crowley 0-2 each, J Murphy, J Phiri, S Murphy, C Moran, J Clarke 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: S Nolan 0-5 (1f), M O’Connor 1-0, K O’Grady, N Hughes (1 2pt) 0-3 each, P Hughes, E Nolan (2pt) 0-2 each, L O’Connor, L Coleman, T Byrne, J Higgins 0-1 each.
Carlow: Johnny Furey; Paddy McDonnell, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; John Phiri, Niall Hickey, John Murphy; Kyle Nolan, Conor Doyle; Ross Dunphy, Darragh Foley, Mikey Bambrick; Conor Crowley, Kevin Murphy, Sean Murphy.
Subs: Ciaran Moran for M Furey (34), Jamie Clarke for Foley (46), Adam Burgess for Nolan (54), Paddy Regan for J Murphy (61), Liam Gavin for K Murphy (64).
Wexford: Darragh Brooks; Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O’Connor; Eoin Porter, Eoghan Nolan, Martin O’Connor; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Páiric Hughes, Shane Pettit, Mark Rossiter; Kevin O’Grady, Tom Byrne, Sean Nolan.
Subs: Ruairi Martin for Sheehan (14), Jack Higgins for Pettit (35), Robbie Brooks for Byrne (35), Conor Carty for O’Grady (58), Dylan Furlong for Rossiter (67).
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).
