Carlow got off to a flying start in the O’Byrne Cup at Newatch Cullen Park yesterday.
Goals from Darragh Foley, Darragh O’Brien and Alan Kelly gave them a 3-17 to 16 points win over NUI Maynooth.
Foley’s goal arrived inside the first 10 minutes when he directed a Paul Broderick delivery to the net.
Maynooth were heavily dependent on Henry Walsh and Evan O’Carroll from placed balls, while Carlow’s scores came from Brendan Murphy, Daniel St Ledger who had his shot crash over off the crossbar, Kieran Nolan, John Murphy and Broderick.
This meant that Carlow led by 1-9 to 0-11 at Half Time.
Shane O’Neill was just one of the many debutants yesterday and after his introduction at the break he popped over a point with his very first touch as a Carlow Senior Footballer and off his unfavoured right boot. Not bad for a first touch.
Darragh O’Brien then found the net after some questionable defending from Maynooth and when Daniel Flynn was sent off for striking in the 44th minute there was always going to be only one winner.
Alan Kelly volleyed home Carlow’s third goal in the 53rd minute to make it 3-12 to 13 points and from there on in Carlow had the luxury of emptying the bench with brothers Shane and Jamie Clarke making their debuts for the last 15 minutes or so.
Points from Eoghan Ruth, Graham Power, Paul Broderick and Darren Lunney put the icing on the cake for Carlow and they now face Westmeath on Wednesday night in Netwatch Cullen Park.
Carlow: Craig Kearney; Chris Crowley, Conor Lawlor, Kieran Nolan (0-1); Hughie Gahan, Shane Redmond, Gary Kelly (0-1); Brendan Murphy (0-2), Eoghan Ruth; Alan Kelly (1-0), Darragh Foley (1-3), John Murphy (0-1); Darragh O’Brien (1-0), Paul Broderick (0-4), Daniel St Ledger (0-2,1f).
Subs: Shane O’Neill (0-1) for J Murphy (HT), Graham Power (0-1) for Gahan (HT), Shane Clarke for Nolan (58mins), Murtough Ware for B Murphy (58mins), Jamie Clarke for O’Brien (59mins), Darren Lunney (0-1) for A Kelly (64mins), Mark Rennick for Crowley (64mins).
