Dublin 1-11 Carlow 1-13
Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship
By Darragh Twomey at Parnell Park
The Dublin U-21 hurlers crashed out of the Leinster Championship 2013 with thirteen seconds to go in their quarter-final clash with Carlow at Parnell Park on Tuesday night (11th June).
A dramatic finish to a thrilling encounter saw Carlow half-forward Marty Kavanagh rattle the net with the last puck of the game, booking his side a semi-final date with Wexford at Dr.Cullen Park in two weeks’ time.
The Dublin back seven, which was led by Vice-captain Matt McCaffrey, the younger brother of Senior captain Johnny, defended brilliantly as a unit until a slip-up occurred in the build-up to Kavanagh’s injury time goal.
Carlow fielded twelve senior panellists and four players who are currently sitting their Leaving Cert, against a Dublin side which featured senior footballer’s Ciarán Kilkenny and Cormac Costello.
Dublin got off to an absolute dream start as they notched a goal and a point in the opening five minutes. Eamon ‘Trollier’ Dillon found the net for the Dubs for the second time in four days, having scored a vital goal in the senior’s draw with Wexford on Saturday night.
The goal came a minute after Ballyboden man Jamie Desmond had opened the scoring with a point.
Kavanagh slotted over a free for Carlow two minutes later, but that score was cancelled out immediately by a brilliant long-range strike from Glenn Whelan.
James Doyle, John Michael Nolan and Daryl Roberts kept the Barrowsiders in touch with a point each, while the ever-impressive Danny Sutcliffe pointed for the young Dubs.
Kavanagh added another point from a placed ball just after the midway point in the half.
Sutcliffe pointed again on the twenty minute mark, but two points in as many minutes from Nolan brought Carlow level.
Aodhán Clabby converted a free to put Dublin in front yet again, but Carlow fought back and two late points from Darren Dalton and Doyle meant they led by the minimum at the interval.
After finishing the first half so strongly, Carlow failed to score for seventeen minutes after the restart. The Metropolitans managed three points in the same period of time, all of which came courtesy of Clabby frees.
The second of Clabby’s hat-trick of frees caused some frustration amongst the Carlow mentors, as the words ‘hawk-eye’ murmured humorously around the stand in the Donnycarney venue.
‘Trollier’ Dillon came agonisingly close to scoring a second goal after a great piece of play between the senior footballing duo of Cormac Costello and Ciarán Kilkenny thirty-five minutes in.
Costello himself had a brilliant goal chance five minutes later, but his effort fizzed past the wrong side of the post.
Carlow centre-back Johnny Corcoran scored his sides first point of the half , before Kavanagh knocked over a free to make it all square with a scoreline of 1-8 to 0-11.
Dublin captain Sutcliffe and substitute from St.Judes Tom Devlin hit back with a point each with six minutes left on referee Seán Ó Cianáin’s watch.
Carlow were awarded a 21-yard free four minutes from time, and Kavanagh opted to go for goal, but his effort was well stopped by Conor Dooley in the Dublin goal. Dalton slotted over from the rebound.
Nolan struck over a point for Carlow to make it level again, but Whelan pointed for the boys in blue as they looked to be heading into the next round.
However, as Dublin corner-back Conor Murphy was appealing for a free after he felt a push in the back, Roberts got hold of the ball for Carlow with Kavanagh in support and only one defender to beat.
Roberts drew the last man, popped the ball over to Kavanagh and he finished brilliantly into the top left corner of the net.
The resulting puck-out was greeted by the full-time whistle and Carlow progressed as 1-13 to 1-11 victors. Agony for Dublin, ecstasy for Carlow.
Dublin: Conor Dooley, Conor Murphy, Matt McCaffrey, Ross Mullins, Chris Crummey, Jamie Desmond, Seán Moran, Cormac Costello, Glenn Whelan, Ciarán Kilkenny, Danny Sutcliffe, Conor McHugh, Aodhán Clabby, Eamon Dillon, Fintan McGibb. Subs: Dylan Mulligan for McHugh (30 mins); Tom Devlin for McGibb (36 mins).
Carlow: Brian Treacy, David Galway, Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Diarmuid Byrne, Johnny Corcoran, Gary Bennett, Craig Wall, Paul Coady, John Michael Nolan, Darren Dalton, Marty Kavanagh, Peter Shaw, James Doyle, Daryl Roberts. Subs: Lauren Kinsella for Bennett (20 mins); Peter Fortune for Shaw (45 mins).
Scorers:
Dublin: J Desmond (0-1), G Whelan (0-2), D Sutcliffe (0-3), A Clabby (0-4 f), Eamon Dillon (1-0), T Devlin (0-1).
Carlow: J Corcoran (0-1), J M Nolan (0-4), D Dalton (0-2), M Kavanagh (1-3, 0-3 f), J Doyle (0-2), D Roberts (0-1).
