A late, late point with almost the last puck of the game allowed Kerry to take a dramatic share of the Joe McDonagh Cup points in Tralee this afternoon.
Carlow opened the scoring with points from Marty Kavanagh and Chris Nolan with Kerry hitting back with two from Shane Conway. While the visitors slipped back into the lead with a James Doyle point, they failed to take goal chances as the Kerry defence put in some last-ditch blocks and tackles to deny Kavanagh, Conor Kehoe and Nolan.
With Kerry hunting in packs and dropping back Brandon Barrett and Michael Leane onto their own half-back line, their rivals depended on Kavanagh to convert a succession of frees. Yet Leane produced an inspirational point for the Kingdom when he drove out from inside his own half and fired the ball over the Carlow black spot.
Kerry enjoyed a huge let off when Paddy Boland, on two occasions, and Nolan had shots saved from point blank range when they looked certain to find the net. Another break down the right by Fiachra Fitzpatrick almost produced a goal but again Nolan saw his shot blocked by a Kerry defence who had got back in numbers.
The Carlow pressure still yielded results and with Kavanagh accounting for 0-09 in the opening half the Barrowsiders led 0-11 to 0-07 at the interval.
After an even opening to the second half Kerry seemed to go up a gear. Half time substitute Padraig Boyle - with two points - and another from Daniel Collins who raised another white flag for Kerry had them back in the game.
In reply, Jon Nolan, Kavanagh and Doyle all pointed for Carlow. When Shane Conway landed two points from play, there was only one in it. Boyle then levelled to set up a grandstand finish.
Carlow hit back and took a three-point lead with two more Kavanagh points and one from Jon Nolan. A hat-trick of points from Conway levelled once more as it looked increasinly like these sides wouldn't be separated.
The visitors seemed to have an edge and pushed ahead again with Jon Nolan and Kavanagh finding the posts. Again, Kerry levelled with Conway on target from a placed ball and an unlikely score leveller from corner back, Paudie O'Connor.
Not to be outdone, another defender, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, raised a white flag and Carlow seemed to have done enough when Kerry stood over a line ball out on half-way.
With players condensing a possible landing ground, the home side cleverly switched the line of attack, worked the ball back to Leane and his effort flew straight and true for the 42nd point of the game.
Afterwards Carlow may have felt a little bit disappointed not to see it out but credit Kerry who believed in themselves when it looked as if the game was getting away from them.
Kerry: John P O'Halloran; Darragh Shanahan, Cillian Trant, Paudie O’Connor (0-1); Eoin Ross, Evan Murphy, Eric Leen; Fionan Mackessy, Kyle O’Connor; Michael Leane (0-2), Jordan Conway, Shane Conway (0-11 7fs); Gavin Dooley, Brandon Barrett (0-2), Colin Walsh (0-1).
Subs: Padraig Boyle (0-3 1f) for Dooley (h/t), Daniel Collins (0-1) for J Conway (h/t), Jason Diggins for Trant (43), Dan Goggin for Barrett (47), Niall Mulcahy for Ross (68)
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawler, JP Treacy; Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-1), Diarmuid Byrne, Jack McCullagh; James Doyle (0-3), Kevin McDonald; Jack Kavanagh, Marty Kavanagh (0-13 9fs), Conor Kehoe; Jon Nolan (0-3), Paddy Boland, Chris Nolan (0-1).
Subs: John Michael Nolan for Treacy, Jack Treacy for Kehoe (68), Fiach O’Toole for Boland (72)
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)
