Kavanagh earns draw for Carlow

Carlow hurlers, the unbeaten leaders of Division 2A, had to rely on an injury-time point by substitute Shane Kavanagh to secure a draw with gutsy Wicklow in their final game at Aughrim yesterday.

A goal by Wicklow’s Wayne O’Gorman six minutes into the second half gave his side a 1-8 to 1-6 lead and thereafter they set the pace.

Carlow had been gifted an early goal through Mark Brennan after ten minutes but Wicklow closed the gap to a point at the break, 1-6 to 0-8, with all eight Wicklow points scored by Andy O’Brien.

Wicklow led by three with three minutes left but Carlow emptied their bench to turn this game around and Shane Kavanagh scored their last three vital points, the first two from frees and the injury-time leveller from a 65.

Carlow top the league with nine points from their five games and will play Westmeath in the Division 2A final.

Scorers for Wicklow: A O’Brien 0-10 (6fs), W O’Gorman 1-0, E Dunne 0-1.

Scorers for Carlow: P Coady 0-4 (3fs), S Kavanagh 0-3 (2fs, 1 65), M Brennan 1-0, D Roberts 0-2, P Kehoe, K McCabe 0-1 each.

WICKLOW: J Murphy; J Connors, G Keogh, G Bermingham; E O’Neill, S Kelly, B Cuddihy; E Kearns, J Henderson; T Doyle, L. Kennedy, R Keddy; E Glynn, W O’Gorman, A O’Brien.

Subs: E Dunne for O’Neill, P Farrell for Kennedy, J Connors for Glynn.

CARLOW: B Treacy; G Kelly, E Nolan, J O’Hara; J Corcoran, D Shaw, E Coady; P Coady, HP O’Byrne; P Kehoe, J Kane, M Clowry; D Roberts, M Brennan, K McCabe.

Subs: M Kavanagh for Kehoe, E Byrne for Clowry, C Doyle for McCabe, J Kavanagh for O’Byrne, S Kavanagh for Kane.

Referee: P Casey (Waterford).