Carlow got their National Hurling League Division 1B campaign off to a bright start when they produced a good performance to see off the challenge of a hapless Down side today in Netwatch Cullen Park.
Playing in a strong breeze and with the rain making conditions just about playable, both sides went head to head in a tense first half.
Pearse Og McCrickard scored four points from placed balls while Carlow's Marty Kavanagh and John Michael Nolan scored two points in the first period. The home side looked to be heading to the interval without conceding a goal. They let their concentration lapse and were caught when Liam Savage ran at the defence. Without a glove being laid on him, he shot low and hard to Brian Tracey’s left giving the Carlow keeper no chance.
At the interval Down led 1-09 to 0-08.
Carlow made two changes at half-time and came out with all guns firing. Donagh Murphy pointed from play and Kavanagh converted a free. Nolan swooped for a 40th minute goal and as the home team upped the ante Donagh Murphy was credited with a goal which seemed to take a deflection off a defender and one of his own players.
Then disaster for Down when they lost defender, Ruairi Og McCrickard to a helmet offence and a straight red card.
Carlow were in no mood to let this one slip and kept the foot on the pedal. Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick and Paddy Boland all scored points for the home side as Down lived on scraps. It wasn’t pretty in the awful conditions but the home side will be glad to have got over what will probably be a four point game as the competition unwinds.
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Niall Bolger, Dion Wall, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Fiach O’Toole 0-01, Kevin McDonald 0-01, Evan Kealy; Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-01, Colm Beck; Jon Nolan, Donagh Murphy 1-04, Conor Kehoe 0-01; Jack Treacy 0-02, John Michael Nolan 1-02, Marty Kavanagh 0-04f.
Subs: Paul Doyle for C Fitzpatrick (h/t), Paddy Boland 0-01 for Beck (h/t), Ted Joyce 0-01 for JM Nolan (50), John Doyle for Kehoe (64), Eric English for Treacy (67).
Down: Pearce Smyth; Conor Cassidy, Matt Conlan, Niall McFarland; Caolan Taggart 0-01, Liam Savage 1-00, Ruairi Óg McCrickard, Donal Hughes 0-01, Ben Teggart 0-01; Barry Trainor, Eoghan Sands, Ronan Beatty; Cathal Coleman 0-02 (1f), Shea Pucci 0-01, Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-04f.
Subs: Daithi Sands for P Óg McCrickard (40), Ronan Smyth for Cassidy (48), Michael Dorrian for Pucci (57), Eoin Pucci 0-01 for Savage (60), Paul Sheehan for E Sands (64).
Referee: N Malone (Clare)
