Pre-season competitions are almost done but Carlow’s Kehoe Cup campaign has come to an end on a winning note.
Netwatch Cullen Park played host to Carlow v Meath on Sunday afternoon with Tom Mullally’s side making it three wins on the bounce following an opening-round defeat to Kildare.
Carlow dominated the early proceedings, posting 1-2 without reply inside the first six minutes with, Paddy Boland finding the back of the net with a cheeky goal over the head of Meath’s Phillip O’Reilly.
Leading by nine at one stage in the first half, Carlow went into the break six points clear (1-12 to 1-6). Brian Treacy jumped into the Carlow goal for the second half with Tony Lawlor coming in at right half forward, Carlow chipping away at easy scores too but Meath never too far behind.
With 20 minutes to play, Meath had a second goal, cutting the gap to four points at 1-17 to 2-10 before Fiachra Fitzpatrick hit a second for Carlow on the hour mark, Meath unable to get closer than six points to the end of the game.
Overall, another good display from Carlow with the bench getting a run-out and some of the county’s younger guns stepping up ahead of the start of the national hurling league in a fortnight’s time.
Going into Sunday’s game, Carlow had a chance to go top of the Kehoe Cup table, with the overall winner this year decided by who finishes top as opposed to a final. However, Kildare’s victory over Down coupled with their win over Carlow in the opening round mean David Herity’s side go top with a game in hand due to the head-to-head result.
Carlow’s campaign comes to a close with three wins from four games where they will finish second at best and can look forward to having this weekend off ahead of the visit of Kildare to Netwatch Cullen Park to get the league underway.
You’ll be able to follow all of Carlow’s National Hurling League Division 2A games live on KCLR and Scoreline.ie this season.
Football is back this weekend
With what was left of the O’Byrne Cup finishing up at the weekend – and congratulations to Longford – Carlow’s senior footballers are back in action this weekend as the curtain goes up on the 2023 Allianz National Football League.
Niall Carew’s side will have had a fortnight away from competitive pre-season action as they get set to welcome neighbours Wicklow to Netwatch Cullen Park under floodlights this coming Saturday night.
You’ll be able to catch that game live on KCLR and Scoreline.ie from 6.50pm this Saturday.
