Carlow recorded a first even senior hurling competitive win over Waterford with this National Hurling League 1B second round victory at Netwatch Cullen Park.
There was no element of fluke to this and the win was a totally deserved success. Carlow started well, absorbing the pressure midway and then finishing strong.
The eventual winners led 1-03 to no score after only four minutes.
Chris Nolan scored the goal when taking a side-line cut from Marty Kavanagh and beat his marker down the left before rifling home. Points from Jack Prendergast and Tom Barron should have settled the Decies but Carlow continued to set the pace. At the interval, the home side led 1-10 to 0-09.
Early in the second half Conor Sheahan and Padraig Fitzgerald raised white flags for the visitors which should have given them a platform to drive on. Carlow replied and substitute, Paddy Boland, picked off a point from distance.
Waterford then took a one-point lead when Jamie Barron fed Sean Walsh and the left-half forward found the top corner of the net.
With 28 minutes to go, the visitors never kicked on and Carlow kept their shape. While Kavanagh continued to knock over the frees, other players such as Jack McCullagh, Ciaran Whelan and Boland all pointed.
In reply, Patrick Fitzgerald, Padraig Fitzgerald and Jamie Barron all featured on the scoresheet for Waterford but they could never get ahead of the home side again.
Instead, with just over five minutes to go, Chris Nolan ran down the left. His low shot touched the hurl of the keeper but the ball crossed the line to seal Carlow's victory.
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paidi O’Shea, Dion Wall, Tony Lawlor; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Kevin McDonald (0-01), Jack McCullagh (0-01); James Doyle (0-02), Ciaran Whelan (0-01); John Doyle, Marty Kavanagh (0-10 (65 6fs)), Lorcan Doyle; Conor Kehoe, Jack Treacy, Chris Nolan (2-03).
Subs: Subs: Paddy Boland (0-02) for Treacy (h/t), Jon Nolan (0-01) for Kehoe (h/t), Ted Joyce for John Doyle (53), Donagh Murphy for Fitzpatrick (62), Evan Kealy for Lawlor (65).
Waterford: Shaun O’Brien; Seamus Fitzgerald, Mark Fitzgerald, Ian Kenny; Michael Kiely, Tom Barron (0-01), Michael Mullaney; Conor Sheahan (0-03), Jack Prendergast (0-01); Padraig Fitzgerald (0-05 (3fs)), Jamie Barron (0-04), Sean Walsh (1-00); Kevin Mahony, Shane Bennett, Patrick Fitzgerald (0-04(1f)).
Subs: Patrick Curran (0-0) for Mahony (h/t), Conor Keane for S Fitzgerald (h/t), Martin Power for Mullaney (59), Charlie Treen for Bennett (59), Thomas Douglas for Walsh (65).
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
