Carlow had a two-point victory over Longfrod in Laois Hire O’Moore Park to take home advantage in the Preliminary Quarter Final of the Tailteann Cup
A game that Carlow needed to win to have a home game in the preliminary quarter-final started off very tentatively, it took the sides eight minutes before the first score of the game was registered. Colm Hulton opened the scoring with a point before Mikey Bambrick got a great goal to put Carlow ahead 1-1 to 0-2 by the 12th minute.
Longford were level by the 18th minute 1-2 to 0-5, Carlow’s discipline was costing them scores as Oran Kenny’s boot was lethal with the placed balls. Carlow should have had a second goal of the game when Colm Hulton had a brilliant chance but put the ball wide. Longford held a slim lead as half-time approached but Carlow was awarded a penalty which was excellently dispatched by Jamie Clarke to put Carlow ahead 2-3 to 0-8.
The Barrowsiders went into the break with a slender lead, 2-5 to 0-9.
Darragh Foley made a piece of history as he became Carlow’s top scorer of all time with 400 points when he slotted over a point in the 39th minute he took the title away from the great Brendan Hayden. Johnny Fury pulled off a magnificent save in the Carlow goal in the 52nd minute to keep Carlow’s lead intact.
The teams were level in the 53rd minute 2-7 to 0-13 before Longfrod got a goal to take the lead again. Carlow showed their character and never panicked, they were level again by the 67th minute after a point from the boot of Darragh Foley. Foley would get a further two points to put Carlow in control of the tie as the full-time whistle came close.
In the end, Carlow held off the Longford challenge to record a very impressive win for Niall Carew’s men. They have now been drawn against New York next weekend in the preliminary quarter-final.