2025 Allianz Football League Division 4 – Carlow 2-15 Waterford 0-12

Carlow defeated Waterford by 2-15 to 0-12 in Round 2 of the Allianz Football League Division 4 on Saturday February 1st at Fraher Field Dungarvan.

First win for Shane Curran’s Carlow as Waterford fall short

Report by Tomás McCarthy at Fraher Field for the Irish Examiner newspaper

NFL Division 4 Carlow 2-15 Waterford 0-12

Ross Dunphy and Kevin Murphy found the net as Carlow grabbed their first win of the Division 4 campaign in driving Dungarvan wind and rain on Saturday night.

Dunphy (1-2) and Darragh O’Brien (0-5) led the way as former Roscommon goalkeeper Shane ‘Cake’ Curran got off the mark with his new team. The outstanding player on the pitch was Waterford full forward Alan Dunwoody who fired six points from play.

Carlow number ten Aaron Amond slotted the first of five two pointers in the fifth minute. The umpire raised a white flag initially before putting up the orange one. Alan Dunwoody, who starred for MTU Cork in the Sigerson Cup, shot two early points for Waterford.

Déise forward James Walsh was punished heavily for showing dissent after being penalised for picking the ball off the ground. Referee Jonathan Hayes moved the ball forward 50 metres and Darragh O’Brien raised another orange flag. Further points from Conor Doyle and Ross Dunphy made it 6-3 to the visitors.

O’Brien blasted right and wide with the goal at his mercy and Dunwoody responded with a two pointer at the other end. Again, the umpire went for the white flag first before Hayes corrected him. The benefits of the new scoring arc were in evidence again on 31 minutes. A two point attempt from Doyle dropped short but Ross Dunphy was lurking to punch the ball to the Waterford net. 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Dunphy extended Carlow’s advantage to five a minute into the second half. Jason Curry converted a free for the hosts before Conor Murray executed a solo and go followed by a two pointer (1-7 to 0-8). Carlow cancelled that out with singles from Darragh O’Brien and Conor Crowley.

Marvellous efforts from Dunwoody and Murray left a goal between them but a Conor Doyle two-pointer gave Carlow breathing space. Two minutes into added time, Curran’s men caught Waterford on the counter attack. With goalkeeper Paudie Hunt out the field, Carlow sub Kevin Murphy punched the ball home. He was only just introduced.

Scorers for Waterford: A Dunwoody 0-6 (1 2p), C Murray 0-4 (1 2p), J Curry 0-2 (2fs).

Scorers for Carlow: R Dunphy 1-2, D O’Brien 0-5 (2fs, 1 2pf), C Doyle 0-4 (1 2p, 1f), K Murphy 1-0, A Amond 0-2 (2p), C Lomax, C Crowley 0-1 each.

Waterford: P Hunt; C Foley, C Walsh, L Fennell; D Ryan, D O Cathasaigh, D Fitzgerald; T Guiry, R Furlong; J Power, J Curry, C Murray; J Walsh, A Dunwoody, B Hynes.
Subs: J Groves for Hynes (47), C O Cuirrin for Furlong (52), J Power for Fitzgerald (58), J Booth for Guiry (66), M O’Brien for Walsh (69).

Carlow: J Furey; P Regan, M Furey, C Byrne; S Clarke, J Murphy, M Bambrick; I Atkinson, L Brennan; A Amond, C Doyle, P McDonnell; C Crowley, R Dunphy, D O’Brien.
Subs: L Walker for Amond (51), K Nolan for Atkinson (61), C Lomax for Crowley (63), K Murphy for Dunphy (71), J Egan for O’Brien (75).

Referee: J Hayes (Limerick)

Team News

Waterford Senior Football Manager, Paul Shankey, has announced his starting lineup to face Carlow in Rd 2 of the Allianz Football League on Saturday evening at 6pm in Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

Advance ticket only https://t.co/XrJc0M0rHo or selected Centra & SuperValu stores. pic.twitter.com/EIohLhDhwH

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) January 30, 2025