Carlow U21 2-12 Kilkenny U21 2-14
Carlow Under-21 hurlers put in a storming second half in which they outscored red-hot favourites Kilkenny 2-04 to 0-05 in a rousing Bord Gais Leinster semi-final at Dr Cullen Park, in a game which provided the Cats with a searching test of their hurling pedigree that they ultimately survived.
Carlow substitute Jack Kavanagh's goal in the 63rd minute came too late as the final whistle blew from the puck-out, and the end of the game came as a relief to a Kilkenny side which was outfought for the final 20 minutes as the home county's momentum built.
Kilkenny right half-back Jason Cleere had his side in front in the first minute with a long-range point from play as the Noresiders took early control against nervous-looking opponents.
Two well-crafted Kilkenny goals from full-forward Ciarán Ryan and right full-forward Liam Hickey in the fifth and 13th minutes provided the visitors with a comfortable cushion as they went on to establish a 2-09 to 0-08 interval lead.
Carlow had missed a number of scorable frees in that opening half in which the greater pace and craft of Kilkenny caused them ongoing problems.
The game appeared to be going along expected lines at that stage but Carlow, shock winners over Laois in the quarter-finals, showed wonderful spirit and no little skill as they staged a superb second-half rally, backed by the big home support in an attendance of approximately 2,000.
The game sprang to life for Carlow when full-forward Peter Shaw shot 1-01 in the space of two minutes early in the second half. With Diarmuid Byrne dominant at midfield the pressure built on Kilkenny and they were now lacking the composure of the opening half.
But three Carlow wides when they were on top slowed their momentum. Still they kept plugging away at the Kilkenny lead and although Liam Blanchfield, a star of Kilkenny's All-Ireland minor winning team of 2014 pointed superbly from play, to put the Cats five points clear, Carlow refused to yield and swept downfield for Kavanagh to crash a great goal through a crowded Kilkenny goal area.
But it came just too late for Carlow to complete the fairytale comeback as Kilkenny qualified for a Leinster final meeting with great rivals Wexford, their winning margin of two points being the same as that achieved in the quarter-final win over Dublin.
Kilkenny may have just about merited their win for their superior overall hurling skill but Carlow proved that heart, commitment and a refusal to accept defeat can carry a team a long way.
Kilkenny: D Brennan; C Delaney, C Wallace, E Cody; J Cleere (0-01), E Morrissey, B Troy; P Deegan (0-01), M Mansfield (0-01); C Martin (0-05, 0-04 frees), W Brennan, J Maher (0-01); L Hickey (1-01), C Ryan (1-02), L Blanchfield (0-02). Subs: K Blanchfield for Deegan (37); L Scanlon for Brennan (49); T Phelan for Scanlon (injured) (54); S Morrissey for Ryan (60).
Carlow: J Barron; S Whelan, G Coady, M Malone; J Murphy, D Wall, M Grady; D Byrne, C Fenlon; M Kavanagh (0-02, 0-01 free), K McDonald (0-04, 0-03 frees), T Joyce (0-02); J Doyle; P Shaw (1-01), C Nolan (0-03). Subs: J Kavanagh (1-00) for Fenlon (h/t); E O'Hara for Doyle (injured) (40); J Doyle for McDonald (62).
Referee: J Heffernan (Wexford).
