IT Carlow in merciless mood

IT Carlow 9-24 Maynooth University 1-3: A merciless performance from IT Carlow got their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign back on track at the North Campus last night.

Although they hit nine goals and had a 45-point winning margin at the end, it won’t be enough to progress from the group if they fail to beat Mary I in their final group game next Tuesday.

Even a win in that game may not be enough as the group would thenbe decided on score difference, assuming Mary I and Waterford beat Maynooth.

Carlow are at least in a healthy situation in that regard.

The rout started early in. Four points from Aidan Fogarty helped them into a 0-17 to 0-1 lead at half-time.

The goals came thick and fast in the second-half.

Corner forward Chris Bolger helped himself to a hat-trick while Ian Byrne netted twice.

Jack Fagan, Stephen Maher, Kevin Kelly and Martin Kavanagh were also among the goals.

Maynooth’s only consolation was a Conor Fenlon goal in the 43rd minute.

Scorers for !T Carlow: C Bolger 3-1; J Fagan 1-6; I Byrne 2-1 (1-1fs); S Maher 1-4 (3fs, 1 65); K Kelly 1-3; A Fogarty 0-4 (1f, 1 65); M Kavanagh 1-0; J Doyle 0-3; C Doughan 0-2 (1f);

Scorers for Maynooth: C Fenlon 1-0; J Maher 0-2 (1f); C Chan 0-1 (f).

IT CARLOW: C Clancy (Offaly); C Doyle (Kilkenny), M Ryan (Carlow), J Gannon (Kilkenny); D Palmer (Laois), C Doughan (Offaly), W Young (Laois); I Byrne (Wexford), A Fogarty (Kilkenny); M Kavanagh (Carlow), M Harney (Waterford), S Maher (Laois); K Kelly (Kilkenny), J Fagan (Meath), C Bolger (Kilkenny).

Subs: B Staunton (Kilkenny) for Young, HT; J Doyle (Carlow) for Maher, 38; K Hannafin (Carlow) for Ryan, 45; E Prendergast (Kilkenny) for Fogarty, 53; G Keegan (Kildare) for Fagan, 56.

MAYNOOTH: S Nolan (Kildare); C Breen (Kilkenny), M Campion (Tipperary), S Ryan (Kildare); R Fennell (Laois), E McLoughlin (Dublin), S O’Connor (Dublin); K Sheridan (Wexford), D Burke (Kilkenny); A Gleeson (Carlow), C Fenlon (Carlow), T Stafford (Wexford); J Maher (Tipperary), C Chan (Kildare), S Farrelly (Westmeath).

Subs: E O’Hara (Carlow) for McLoughlin (inj), 40; J Murphy (Wexford) for Maher, 51.

Referee: A Kelly (Galway).