JOHN DIVILLY: It doesn’t have to be a classic to be memorable and intriguing

A Championship opener at Dr Cullen Park may not have been one for the purists to salivate over, but the intrigue was constant and the reward for Carlow far greater than the immediacy of a Leinster quarter-final date with Dublin. That may be daunting, but it can wait, writes John Divilly.

Their composure, and more importantly, their discipline in the second half improved significantly and sufficiently yesterday to secure them a first Leinster championship success since 2011. Lady Luck shined on Carlow at vital times also, but they fully deserved their luck and scoring 2-17 showcased a lot of their potential talents.

Was it a great spectacle of Gaelic football? Maybe not, but, for me, there were several brilliant pieces of individual skill and great team moves. The kick-out strategies from both sides I found intriguing and the athletic prowess of both was a testament to their hard pre-season work.