2025 Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Tier 2 Group 2 – Carlow 2-15 Kerry 2-11

Carlow defeated Kerry by 2-15 to 2-11 in the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship on Saturday April 6th at Netwatch Cullen Park Carlow.

Carlow minor hurlers record impressive win over Kerry

Report by Kieran Murphy for the Carlow Nationalist newspaper

Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Round 1

Carlow 2-15 Kerry 2-11

A superb second half performance was key as Carlow fashioned a hugely satisfying Leinster minor hurling championship victory at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.

Dylan Costello set his stamp on the opening half scoring all of his side’s total as Kerry led 1-7 to 0-7. As early as 10 seconds into the game, Costello was on the end of a probing ball and taking possession, he turned and fired over the Carlow crossbar.

Carlow hit back and points from Adam Joyce and James Brennan put them in front despite playing into a stiff breeze which blew directly down the pitch from the O’Hanrahan end of the ground.

The only goal of the half came on 14 minutes when another direct delivery found Costello and turning ever so quickly the Kerry corner-forward found the net with an unstoppable shot.

Carlow dug in and John Lillis converted a free. Two more wides from the home side upset their momentum but they never let Kerry get too far ahead. A brace of Costello frees ensured Kerry went in leading by three points at the interval.

A point a piece from Lillis and Sheehan immediately after the interval acted as a huge confidence booster for the home side. When Kerry keeper, Sean Ross, failed to take control, Adam Joyce, steered the ball to the net.

It was rip-roaring stuff from there to the end. Another error from the visiting keeper, saw the onrushing Ben Kelly flick the ball to the net on 52 minutes.

A Costello point for Kerry ensured Carlow could not relax. Even more so when home keeper, Darragh Coleman, allowed a speculative effort from Alex Relihan bounce off his hand and slide under the crossbar.

Kerry came again and two magnificent catches from Aodhán Kehoe and John Lillis kept the visitors at bay. It was a sign of the confidence that permeated through the Carlow squad.

With the final play of the game, the home side won a free and Sheehan saw off the Kerry challenge as he stroked the sliotar over the bar.

Scorers

Carlow: T Sheehan 0-7 (3fs), A Joyce 1-1, J Brennan, J Lillis (2f) 0-3 each, C Kavanagh 0-1

Kerry: D Costello 1-9 (6fs 65), A Relihan 1-0, M Corridan (f), D O’Flaherty 0-1 each.

CARLOW: Darragh Coleman; Michael Shanahan, Aodhán Kehoe, Niall Power; Seanie McMahon, Alex Doyle, Kieran Donald; John Lillis, Peter Lynch; Thomas Sheehan, James Brennan, Ciaran Kavanagh; James Bergin, Ben Kelly, Adam Joyce.
Subs: Eoghan Treacy for Bergin (47), Harry Delaney for Lynch (57).

KERRY: Sean Ross; Billy Moriarty, Ryan Hurley, Dara Wallace; Matthew O’Flaherty, Brody Leen, Evan O’Connor; Jake Rochford, Luke Hanafin; Scott Sheehan, Cody Goggin, Darragh O’Flaherty; Stephen Shanahan, Mikey Corridan, Dylan Costello.
Subs: Cillian Hurley for Sheehan (36), Alex Relihan for Shanahan (36), Brandon Leen for M O’Flaherty (40), Tom Lenihan for Goggin (44).

Referee: Jimmy Heavey (Wexford).