Kavanagh and Nolan fire Carlow past youthful Kerry

Carlow 3-22 Kerry 0-19 

Carlow got their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A campaign off to a winning start, producing a strong display to overcome Kerry by 12 points in Tralee.

Without their sharpshooter Shane Conway, Kerry were missing a vital asset and struggled to match the Carlow attack with Chris Nolan and Martin Kavanagh in emphatic form.

Carlow started much the better, Kevin McDonald pointing a free from his own 45m line with two minutes elapsed. 

The visitors kept on the front foot as Nolan powered his way toward the Kerry goal and flicked the sliotar past Louis Dee for a 1-1 to no score lead after three minutes.

It was a dominant opening quarter from the reigning Joe McDonagh champions as four more points saw them push their lead to nine points by the 15th-minute mark. 

Dan Goggin got Kerry off the mark seconds later, playing against the stiff breeze proving an arduous task.

Nolan and Kavanagh were relishing the elements in Austin Stack Park. 

Kerry got back on the board through Fionán Mackessy after 18 minutes, the Kingdom were finding chances limited, Darragh Shanahan striking their third point after 24 minutes. By that stage they were trailing 1-9 to 0-3.

Brandon Barrett reduced the deficit to eight points with a well-struck free. It looked like a Kingdom goal was on the cards soon after, but but Maurice O’Connor, after gathering a highball and flicking it to Goggin, struck a shot the wrong side of the crossbar.

Kavanagh and Nolan were on top form for Carlow. Kavanagh had a tally of five points in the opening period while Nolan struck 1-5, as the visitors powered to a 1-14 to 0-7 lead at the break.

Kerry began the second half the brighter as Maurice O’Connor cut the gap down to eight with two quick points, Kavanagh however was accurate at the other end, a free and a score from play restored the 10-point margin by the 40-minute mark.

As the third quarter was nearing completion, Carlow struck a second goal as Fiachra Fitzpatrick made a strong drive from the back, gathered possession and raced into the area. He struck a rocket past Dee for a 2-16 to 0-9 lead.

Kerry were still plucking away and searching for a route to goal, Carlow kept their shape and Kerry had to settle for points. They reduced the deficit on the hour mark 2-20 to 0-16 as Mackessy found his third point.

Carlow put the outcome beyond doubt with a slip by Daithi Griffin allowed Kavanagh to race unchallenged down the left wing and the wing forward struck low past Dee to raise the green flag.

Scorers for Carlow: M Kavanagh (1-9, 5fs), C Nolan (1-6), C Kehoe (0-4), F Fitzpatrick (1-0), K McDonald (0-2, 1f), J M Nolan (0-1).  

Sc orers for Kerry: F Mackessy (0-4), D Goggin (0-3), N Mulcahy, B Barrett (0-3fs) each, M O’Connor (0-2), D Shanahan, F O’Sullivan, M Leane, D Griffin (0-1 each).     

KERRY: L Dee; F McCarthy, R Walsh, D Shanahan; E Murphy, F Mackessy, D Griffin; K O'Connor, M Leane; B Barrett, G Dooley, K Hayes; M O’Connor, T Doyle, D Goggin.

Subs: E Leen for F McCarthy (half-time), N Mulcahy for G Dooley (half-time), T O’Connor for R Walsh (48), N O’Mahony for T Doyle (56), Felim O’Sullivan for B Barrett (67) Temp: B Keane for F O’Sullivan (70+1-full-time).

CARLOW: B Tracey; P Doyle, D Wall, J McCullagh; T Lawlor, K McDonald, F Fitzpatrick; C Kehoe, J Doyle; J M Nolan, C Nolan, M Kavanagh; F O’Toole, J Doyle, S Joyce.

Subs: J Nolan for F O’Toole (55), N Bolger for J McCullagh (63), C Kavanagh for J Doyle (66), R Coady for C Nolan (70), J Doyle for F Fitzpatrick (70+4).

Referee: N Malone (Clare)