Five-star Ryan shines as Dubs see off Carlow
FAVOURITES Dublin had to produce a muchimproved second-half performance to see off the challenge of a sticky home side at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday in the National Hurling League Division 1B third-round tie.
With the amount of rain which fell in the hours leading up to the throw-in, it was a minor miracle the game went ahead.
Carlow brought an intensity to the opening exchanges in the first quarter and were well worth their 0-3 to 0-2 lead with Marty Kavanagh landing two frees and John Michael Nolan also pointing. Rian McBride replied for the Dubs, scoring both points.
Gradually the visiting side pulled ahead and with McBride scoring three points in total in the first half, Oisin O’Rorke converting two frees and Seán Moran also getting off the mark, they led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.
Chris Crummey had two goal chances in the second quarter but the defence forced an overcarry while he saw another effort go wide when he looked bound to find the net.
As Dublin upped the intensity in the second half, Carlow keeper Damien Jordan brought off a number of saves with David Kehoe and John Hetherton coming closest to finding the net for Mattie Kenny’s men. The introduction of Paul Ryan was vital for the visitors and he accumulated five points in the 21 minutes he was in the game.
Crummey scored two second-half points while David Kehoe, who came in at half-time, slotted over two from play.
Carlow remained defiant to the end.
Kavanagh scored two great points from play, Nolan also posted his second point of the game and David English converted a long-range