Doyle’s four-goal fest fires Carlow to title and back onto main stage
JAMES DOYLE fired a remarkable four goals as Carlow claimed the Christy Ring Cup title and a place in the AllIreland qualifiers.
The St Mullins man was on fire with a first-half hat-trick and 4-1 in total as Carlow secured a third success at the grade.
Captain Martin Kavanagh was also on the goal trail with Carlow’s fourth though they still had some nervous moments. Antrim cut a 13-point deficit after 38 minutes to seven after a fourth goal of their own.
But they couldn’t push on in front of 5,618 and slipped to agonising back-toback final defeats, while Carlow advance to a qualifier clash with Laois.
Doyle got his first three goals in 11 firsthalf minutes. The sides had been level four times when Carlow surged clear with Doyle’s first after 23 minutes.
Eddie Byrne fed him with a great run and Kavanagh was the provider for the second with a carbon copy burst through the middle.
Doyle’s third goal in the 34th minute was all his own work as he turned Aaron Graffin on the left and sped clear to finish.
Carlow led 3-12 to 1-7 at the break and would have been out
of sight but for a 29thminute Eoghan Campbell goal for Antrim.
Ciaran Clarke did his best for Antrim and finished with 2-9 including 39th and 56thminute goals. Neil McManus netted from a free too but Antrim never got closer than that seven point margin.
And Doyle’s fourth goal, Carlow’s fifth, in the 68th minute made sure of the victory.