Allianz Hurling League Division 2A – Carlow 0-20 Kerry 1-13

Carlow blow for Kingdom

Kerry 1-13 Carlow 0-20

By Kieran McCarthy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Paudie Kehoe fired 11 points as Carlow all but ended Kerry’s hopes of promotion from Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League yesterday. Despite trailing by seven points late in the first-half (1-10 to 0-6), after Kerry’s Shane Nolan had the game’s only goal, Carlow bossed the entire second period. With Kehoe scoring 0-7 (six from frees) in the second-half alone, as well as a brace from impressive full-forward Craig Doyle, Carlow overpowered the hosts whose challenge faltered badly.

Keeping Kerry to just three second-half scores, Carlow pulled level (0-15 to 1-12) with 13 minutes left before Kehoe’s only score from play edged the division table-toppers ahead for the first time. Kerry’s Shane Brick had them level once more (1-13 to 0-16) but by now all the momentum was with Carlow and they kicked on in the final five minutes, scoring four unanswered points through Mark Brennan, Craig Doyle and a Kehoe brace. Following on from their emphatic opening round win over Down, this result leaves Carlow in pole position, while Kerry’s league hopes are in tatters after two successive losses.

Scorers for Kerry: S Nolan 1-3, S Brick (3f) 0-5, W O’Dwyer 0-2, P Boyle, J Griffin, D O’Connell (f) 0-1

Scorers for Carlow: P Kehoe (10f) 0-11, C Doyle 0-3, R Coady 0-2, M Brennan, J Kane, M Kavanagh, E Byrne 0-1 each.

KERRY: B Rochford; R Horgan, T Murnane, P Costello; J Godley, D Dineen, A O’Connor; W O’Dwyer, J Griffin; M Boyle, A Boyle, S Nolan; P Boyle, S Brick, D O’Connell.

Subs: C Harris for J Godley (41, inj); C Harty for D O’Connell (60); L Boyle for J Griffin (60); M Lynch for A Boyle (64).

CARLOW: F Foley; A Corcoran, E Nolan, D Shaw; J Corcoran, S Kavanagh, J Rogers; J Kavanagh, R Coady; A Gaule, J Kane, P Kehoe; M Kavanagh, C Doyle, D Roberts.

Subs: M Brennan for M Kavanagh (21); E Byrne for D Roberts (24); G Kelly for A Corcoran (ht); R Smithers for J Kane (57); E Coady for S Kavanagh (61).

Referee: Jer O’Connell (Cork)