Carlow end U17 hopes
DEFEAT WAS the lot for Wexford Gold as they went under to a more skilful Carlow side in this Celtic Challenge Under-17 hurling Division 4 Jerome O’Leary Cup semi-final at Spellman Park, Kildavin, on Monday.
The ability of Carlow forwards Ciarán Kavanagh and Dan Sheehan to pick off scores proved the real difference between the sides as Wexford lacked an attacker of their ability, particularly when it came to finishing.
For Wexford things did not look good from an early stage as they had fallen 0-7 to nil adrift by the end of the opening quarter, and it was only the fine goalkeeping of Kevin Cosgrave that denied the home side a couple of goals such was their outfield dominance.
During this opening spell Kavanagh and Sheehan along with James Smithers and Eoin Hosey picked off their scores, with Smithers showing the threat he posed from the corner-forward position as he waltzed through the defence for two fine individual points.
The Wexford attacks were causing little problems to the home defence as they had to wait until the 20th minute for their opening score, a Jake Nobbs pointed free from 60 metres.
The score helped settle the Wexford side somewhat as they followed with two further points from John Murphy and a Nobbs free, but Carlow finished the half strongly with two Kavanagh pointed frees to lead by 0-10 to 0-3 at the interval.
Carlow retained the initiative on the resumption, with Kavanagh firing over a point from play followed by a free and further effort from play to extend his side into a 0-14 to 0-4 lead, as Jake Nobbs could only manage a Wexford pointed free in between.
Wexford enjoyed their best spell entering the final quarter as they struck for four unanswered points through Anthony Murphy, Nobbs (two frees) and Niall Murphy to reduce the deficit to 0-14 to 0-8 with 14 minutes remaining.
Carlow were not to be denied as they took firm control in the final quarter as Smithers struck over some excellent points.
And with a goal from a Ciarán Kavanagh penalty they maintained their firm grip on proceedings, although it took two excellent saves from netminder Kevin Curran to deny Wexford goals close to the finish.
Wexford Gold: Kevin Cosgrave; Cameron O’Leary, Niall Parker, Nathan Byrne; Aaron Doyle, John Murphy (0-2), Evan O’Dwyer; Jake Nobbs (0-6 frees), Jake Clancy; Tadhg Kelly, Anthony Murphy (0-1), Jack Fortune; David Mernagh, Niall Murphy (0-1), Ben O’Connor. Subs. - Glen Carton for O’Leary, Conor Morris for Clancy, Seán O’Neill for O’Dwyer, Tomás Cosgrave (0-1) for Mernagh, Jamie Doyle for O’Connor, Aaron Byrne for Fortune, Philip Redmond for Doyle, Robert McGuinness for Byrne, Ethan Freeman for Kelly, Alex Sludds for Nobbs, Pádraig Bailey (0-1) for A. Murphy.
Carlow: Kevin Curran; Colin Malone (0-1), Jack Ryan, Seán Cummins; Niall Canning, Tadhg Daly, Eoin Hosey (0-1); Eoin Kavanagh, Dan Tobin; Richie Whelan, Dan Sheehan (0-5, 2 frees, 1 ‘65), Niall Hickey; Gavin Rutschizko, Ciarán Kavanagh (1-8, 0-6 frees, 1-0 pen.), James Smithers (0-3). Subs. - Billy Molloy for Whelan, Richie Harmon for Sheehan, Lazerian Meaney for Tobin.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow).