Carlow cause major shock with victory over Waterford

It was a victory fully deserved by Carlow, one built on skill and work-rate.

TWO-GOAL HERO: Chris Nolan of Carlow celebrates after scoring his side's first goal against Waterford. Nolan scored 2-3 in total. Pic: Stephen Marken, Sportsfile

AHL Division 1B: Carlow 2-21 Waterford 1-19 

Carlow recorded a major shock in the National Hurling League 1B when they deservedly beat Waterford at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

There was no element of fluke to this and the win was forged on skill, superior work-rate and a willingness not to concede defeat.

The eventual winners led 1-3 to 0-0 after only four minutes. Chris Nolan scored the goal when taking an accurate side-line cut from Marty Kavanagh. He caught the ball cleanly, took off down the left and beat his marker before rifling home. The visitors replied with points from Jack Prendergast and Tom Barron which should have settled the Decies but Carlow continued to set the pace. At the interval, the home side led 1-10 to 0-9.

Early in the second half Conor Sheahan and Padraig Fitzgerald raised white flags for the visitors. It looked as if the comeback was on. Particularly when Jamie Barron picked out Sean Walsh who found the top corner of the Carlow net on 42 minutes.

Carlow absorbed that shock and kept their shape. While Kavanagh continued to knock over the frees, Jack McCullagh, Ciaran Whelan and Paddy Boland all pointed.

In reply, Patrick Fitzgerald, Padraig Fitzgerald and Jamie Barron featured on the scoresheet for Waterford but they could never get ahead of the home side again. 

Instead, with just over five minutes to go, Chris Nolan ran down the left. His low shot touched the hurl of the keeper but the ball crossed the line to seal the home victory.

Typical of the Waterford effort on the day, they won a 20-metre free but Fitzgerald’s effort flew high and over the bar. In contrast, from the puck-out Carlow’s Ciaran Whelan won his own free. It was a measure of the former Joe McDonagh Cup winner’s resilience and attitude that this was going to be their day. They finished on the attack instead of absorbing what the visitors could throw at them as the clock ticked down.

Scorers for Carlow: M Kavanagh 0-10 (65 6fs), Chris Nolan 2-3, P Boland, James Doyle 0-2 each, K McDonald, Jack McCullagh, C Whelan, J Nolan 0-1 each 

Scorers for Waterford: Padraig Fitzgerald 0-5 (4fs), J Barron, Patrick Fitzgerald (1f) 0-4 each, C Sheahan 0-3, S Walsh 1-0, T Barron, J Prendergast 0-1 each, P Curran (1f).

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paidi O’Shea, Dion Wall, Tony Lawlor; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; James Doyle, Ciaran Whelan; John Doyle, Marty Kavanagh, Lachlann Doyle; Conor Kehoe, Jack Treacy, Chris Nolan.

Subs: Subs: Paddy Boland for Treacy (h/t), Jon Nolan for Kehoe (h/t), Ted Joyce for John Doyle (53), Donagh Murphy for Fitzpatrick (62), Evan Kealy for Lawlor (65).

WATERFORD: Shaun O’Brien; Seamus Fitzgerald, Mark Fitzgerald, Ian Kenny; Michael Kiely, Tom Barron, Michael Mullaney; Conor Sheahan, Jack Prendergast; Padraig Fitzgerald, Jamie Barron, Sean Walsh; Kevin Mahony, Shane Bennett, Patrick Fitzgerald.

Subs: Patrick Curran for Mahony (h/t), Conor Keane for S Fitzgerald (h/t), Martin Power for Mullaney (59), Charlie Treen for Bennett (59), Thomas Douglas for Walsh (65).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).