Reid points way for Carlow

IT Carlow just prevailed in this Fitzgibbon Cup group tie at the IT grounds in Carlow yesterday after a competitive contest which featured a shootout between the respective centre-forwards – the home side’s TJ Reid and NUIG’s Niall Burke.

Kilkenny senior star Reid shot 0-9, eight from placed balls, while Burke, the Oranmore-Maree clubman, was the game’s top scorer with 0-11, three from play.

In injury-time, NUIG, a point in arrears, earned a 20 metre free to the right of the Carlow goal. Burke went for goal but his fierce shot was smothered by a packed IT defence and the final whistle sounded seconds later.

The hosts was never headed in a hard-fought tie, the outcome of which means both sides advance to the knockout stages. But Carlow’s win secures them home advantage.

IT Carlow dominated the opening spell and led 0-11 to 0-7 at half-time. But within 20 seconds of the restart the visitors’ full-forward, Rory Shanahan, whipped in a superb goal.

Try as they might, however, the western students simply could not get on level terms. With goalkeeper Eoghan Mealey, Danny Kenny, Des Shaw, James Rigney, Conor Kenny and Reid prominent, the home side just about deserved victory. Cormac Diviney, Eoin Fahy, Mark Kelly, David Kenny and Niall Burke were outstanding for NUIG.

Scorers for IT Carlow: T J Reid 0-9, 0-6f, 0-2 65s, C Kenny 0-4, P Hally, B Harding, O Walsh, T Carroll 0-1 each.

Scorers NUIG: N Burke 0-11, 0-8f, R Shanahan 1-0, S Quinlan 0-1, D Kenny 0-1 each.

IT CARLOW: E Mealey; J Culhane, D Kenny, J Carroll; B Harding, D Shaw, J Rigney; P Hally, R Doyle; C Kenny, T J Reid, O Walsh; T Carroll, N Foyle, J Maher.

Subs: P J Carroll for Culhane (38); P Walsh for Halley (53); E Fitzpatrick for Kenny (57).

NUIG: D Tuohy; C Diviney, E Fahy, S McCormack; M Kelly, D Kenny, P Kelly; D Burke, J P O’Connell; D Higgins, N Burke, E Hayes; R Shanahan, K Downes, S Quinlan.

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).