Dunphy double decides thriller

CARLOW 5-11 LOUTH 3-15 A LATE Ross Dunphy goal clinched victory for Carlow in a hugely entertaining U-20 clash in group 3 in Drogheda yesterday afternoon.

Louth started well, scoring a goal within a minute through Leonard Gray and added a second after ten minutes with Sam Mulroy putting the finishing touches to an excellent move.

Cian Callan scored a third to leave the scores 3-4 to 0-4 before Carlow replied with a Conor Crowley penalty to halt the home side’s momentum and another ten minutes before the break through Dunphy before the sides traded points to leave the half-time scoreboard reading 3-7 to 2-8 in Louth’s favour.

Further Carlow goals from Robbie Kane and Andrew Keogh put Carlow ahead for the first time but Keogh’s joy was short-lived as he was sent off with 15 minutes left.

Louth took advantage with Sam Mulroy scoring three points in quick succession but Carlow refused to lie down and won it at the death thanks to Dunphy’s second goal of the game.

SCORERS – Carlow: C Crowley 1-6 (0-2 ’45s, 0-3 fs); R Dunphy 2-0; A Keogh 1-3; R Kane 1-1; R Doyle 0-1 Louth: S Mulroy 1-8 (0-2fs, 0-1 ‘45); C Callan 1-1; L Gray 1-0; S Marry 0-2; C Morgan, F Malone, L Jackson and G Garland 0-1 each.

CARLOW: J Rowan; D Fitzpatrick, J Keogh, T Roche; R Doyle, N Roche, J Moore; T Bric, A Keogh; C Lomax, C Doyle, R Dunphy; R Kane, C Crowley, C O’Doherty. Subs: D Ruth for N Roche (H-T), N Crowley for C O’Doherty (36 mins), M Brambrick for D Fitzpatrick (47 mins), C Doyle for R Kane (56 mins)

LOUTH: A McGauley; A Connor, C O’Neill, M Lugoye; L Grey, E Keenan, L Jackson; C Grogan, F Malone; E McDaid, S Marry, G Garland; C Morgan, S Mulroy, C Callan. Subs: R Levins for C O’Neill (24 mins), C Keenan for M Lugoye (37 mins), C Nicolson for S Marry (46 mins), J Gallagher for C Grogan (46 mins), J Kelly for C Callan (52 mins),

REF – B Tiernan (Dublin)