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Leinster SHC: Dublin too strong for Carlow

Eamonn Dillon, Dublin, and Michael Doyle, Carlow, in Leinster SHC action at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Eamonn Dillon, Dublin, and Michael Doyle, Carlow, in Leinster SHC action at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

DUBLIN 2-22 CARLOW 1-13

By Paul Keane at Netwatch Cullen Park

Eamonn Dillon's first-half brace of goals at Netwatch Cullen Park propelled dominant Dublin to an impressive Leinster SHC win, their first of the campaign.

The 2013 provincial winners needed a win to keep on course for a precious top-three finish and duly delivered despite losing Shane Barrett to a red card.

The wing-back was dismissed just before half-time after a heavy collision with Carlow midfielder Jack Kavanagh though Dublin took the loss in their stride.

It was a commanding display from Mattie Kenny's side who drew with Wexford previously and lost to Kilkenny in their opening game.

They wrap up their group campaign with a June 15 home game against Galway at Parnell Park, a game they will feel they must win.

Speedy Dillon finished with 2-2 for Dublin while free-taker Paul Ryan top scored with 0-9 and veteran Conal Keaney picked off four points from play.

Eoghan O'Donnell was also excellent again at full-back beside Paddy Smyth who cleared tonnes of ball too in a one-sided game.

Colm Bonnar's Carlow never quite got to grips with a charged up and fully committed Dublin outfit that moved 1-4 to 0-2 ahead after 15 minutes.

Ryan, the lively Cian Boland and Ronan Hayes all pointed before Dillon took on the responsibility after winning possession from a long free in, darted away to the left and struck a low shot to the corner.

Keaney was hungry and efficient and added a point before beginning the move that led to Dillon's second goal in the 30th minute.

Keaney won possession out on the right in a group of bodies and fed Ryan who passed to the unerring Dillon.

Ryan closed out the first-half scoring to leave Dublin 2-10 to 0-08 ahead and they built on that eight-point lead despite Barrett's exit just before the break.

Keaney drilled three more points for Dublin in the third quarter as they opened up a 2-17 to 0-9 advantage before Carlow clawed back a goal.

It came in the 50th minute when James Doyle did well to gather up possession after a long ball in before beating the advancing Dublin goalkeeper Alan Nolan.

The hosts hit 1-02 in total without response but Dublin points from Dillon, Hayes and sub Fergal Whitely in the closing minutes left a dozen points between them at full-time.

Scorers for Dublin: Paul Ryan 0-9 (5fs), Eamon Dillon 2-2, Conal Keaney 0-4, Ronan Hayes 0-2, Fergal Whitely 0-2, Cian Boland 0-1, Tom Connolly 0-1, Eoghan O'Donnell 0-1

Scorers for Carlow: Martin Kavanagh 0-4 (2fs), Chris Nolan 0-4 (2fs), James Doyle 1-0, Sean Whelan 0-2, Edward Byrne 0-1, John Michael Nolan 0-1, Jack Kavanagh 0-1.

DUBLIN: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Donnell, Cian Hendricken; Chris Crummey, Sean Moran, Shane Barrett; Tom Connolly, Sean Treacy; Cian Boland, Danny Sutcliffe, Eamon Dillon; Conal Keaney, Ronan Hayes, Paul Ryan.

Subs: Darragh O'Connell for Connolly (33), Jake Malone for Boland (48), James Madden for Hendricken (49), John Hetherton for Keaney (54), Fergal Whitely (0-02) for Ryan (60).

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Alan Corcoran, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Kevin McDonald, David English, Richard Coady; Jack Kavanagh, Sean Whelan; John Michael Nolan, Edward Byrne, Seamus Murphy; James Doyle, Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh.

Subs: Eoin Nolan for Coady (24), Ross Smithers for C Nolan (32-h/t), Ger Coady for Corcoran (35), Smithers for Murphy (44), Ted Joyce for Kavanagh (50), Denis Murphy for Byrne (59-64), Denis Murphy for J Doyle (65).

REFEREE: John Keenan (Wicklow).