Carlow produced a superb second half National Football League Division 4 performance to clinch promotion and secure a place in the league final at Croke Park next weekend.
They did it the hard way conceding two early goals through Fergal McLoughlin and Michael McKiernan. Sandwiched in between those strikes was a Colm Hulton three pointer when his shot was saved by Leitrim keeper, Killian Gaffney, but was deflected to the net by a defender.
Carlow made good their fortune and built momentum in the second quarter where Ross Dunphy completed the half scoring landing four points from play. Also on target for the eventual winners was Liam Gavin raising two white flags as the home side kept the scoreboard ticking over.
In the opening jousts of the second half, the sides shared a point apiece from placed balls but this time the home side were in no mood to concede ground.
The eventual winners played a clever and patient possession game teasing out the Leitrim defence and then when the opportunity arose going for the jugular. The away defence had no answer and with a John Murphy goal it was the home side's to lose.
This never looked like happening and Conor Doyle’s two-pointer pushed their advantage out to eleven points. Carlow embellished their performance with further goals from John Phiri and Jamie Clarke against a side who had run out of ideas.
Carlow: Ben McCarron; Colin Byrne, Dara Curran, John Phiri (1-00); John Murphy (1-00), Mark Furey, Padhraig Bolger (0-01); Eoghan Ruth, Conor Doyle (0-05 (1-2p)); Paddy McDonnell, Colm Hulton (1-01), Mikey Bambrick (0-02); Ross Dunphy (0-05), Liam Gavin (0-02), Lee Walker (0-04).
Subs: Adam Burgess for Ruth (56), Niall Roche for Murphy (60), Aaron Amond for Doyle (60), Jamie Clarke (1-0) for Gavin (60), Chris Blake (0-02 1-2pf) for Dunphy (64).
Leitrim: Killian Gaffney; Michael McKiernan (1-00), Conor Reynolds, Sean Harkin; Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Diffley, Eanna McNamara; Cillian McGloin, Barry McNulty (0-01); Fergal McLoughlin (1-00), Keith Keegan, Riordan O’Rourke; Jack Kelly (0-01), Ryan O’Rourke (0-03 2fs), Gavin Reynolds.
Subs: Ruairi O’Rourke for McLoughlin, Paul Honeyman for McGloin (h/t), Kieran Clancy for McNamara (all ht), Oisin McLoughlin for Kelly (57), Peter Drior for Ryan O’Rourke (57)
Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare)
