Carlow and Wexford played out an exciting draw in this second round Tailteann Cup game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
The home side were the moral victors, coming from four points down in four minutes of stoppage-time to level things up.
Carlow hit the woodwork on four occasions over the course of the game. They deserved a share of the spoils at the very least.
The drama was ramped up in added time when John Phiri slotted a point to leave only three in it. One last attack saw Ross Dunphy fouled just inside the big square and from the resultant spot-kick, Carlow midfielder Conor Doyle beat Darragh Brooks when he went for power rather than subtlety.
The home side had started well with points from Dunphy, John Murphy and Kevin Murphy (free).
Eoghan Nolan converted a two-pointer from play for the visitors. Sean Nolan added a point to level.
Carlow were then unlucky to see Conor Crowley's rocket fly off the upright. Kevin O’Grady ended the half with three points from play for Wexford while Sean Nolan also raised two white flags.
A 23rd-minute raid by Mikey Bambrick almost yielded a Carlow goal but the woodwork intervened. He did the same in the third quarter and, at that stage, the home side could very well have dropped their heads.
Wexford led 0-09 to 0-08 at the break and Nolan extended that lead with a free a minute after the restart.
Carlow hit back when Niall Hickey landed a two-pointer from play, while Sean Murphy and Ciaran Moran also pointed. The visitors responded and were rewarded with two Nolan points.
Martin O’Connor scored their goal when he found the bottom left-hand corner of the net on 45 minutes. Liam O’Connor, Liam Coleman and Jack Higgins points put Wexford six clear with six minutes left on the clock nd the visitors looked nailed-on to win.
Carlow hopes rose a little when Dunphy got in behind the Wexford defence for a goal with time running out. Wexford came back but missed chances and they really will wonder how they let Carlow off the hook.
They paid for it too as the home side mounted those two last attacks to nab a draw after their surprise victory over Fermanagh seven days earlier.
Key: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Carlow: Johnny Furey; Paddy McDonnell, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; John Phiri (0-01), Niall Hickey (0-02, 1tp), John Murphy (0-01); Kyle Nolan, Conor Doyle (1-01, pen); Ross Dunphy (1-01), Darragh Foley, Mikey Bambrick (0-02); Conor Crowley (0-02), Kevin Murphy (0-03, 3f), Sean Murphy (0-01).
Subs: Ciaran Moran (0-01) for M Furey (34'), Jamie Clarke (0-01) for Foley (46'), Adam Burgess for Nolan (54'), Paddy Regan for J Murphy (61'), Liam Gavin for K Murphy (64').
Wexford: Darragh Brooks; Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O’Connor(0-01); Eoin Porter, Eoghan Nolan (0-02, 1tp), Martin O’Connor (1-00); Liam Coleman (0-01), Niall Hughes (0-03, 1tp); Páiric Hughes (0-02), Shane Pettit, Mark Rossiter; Kevin O’Grady (0-03), Tom Byrne (0-01), Sean Nolan (0-05, 1f).
Subs: Ruairi Martin for Sheehan (14'), Jack Higgins (0-01) for Pettit (35'), Robbie Brooks for Byrne (35'), Conor Carty for O’Grady (58'), Dylan Furlong for Rossiter (67').
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).
