Carlow’s Leinster Championship campaign took a turn as they secured their first points on the board with a dramatic 1-20 draw against Kilkenny.
A few more shots from the Leinster SHC match between Carlow and Kilkenny in NCP on Saturday. Carlow Captain Kevin McDonald, James Doyle, Conor Kehoe, Donagh Murphy and Paddy Boland. @Carlow_GAA @Natsport @TheLeftWingBack pic.twitter.com/jWdkLN6uqS
— Pat Ahern (@pgahern) May 11, 2024
The match, characterized by intense moments and a late-game controversy, saw Carlow’s Marty Kavanagh emerge as the hero with a crucial free kick.
The pivotal moment came in the closing stages when Kavanagh stepped up to take the free kick, leveling the scores and salvaging a point for the Barrowsiders. However, the manner in which the free was awarded sparked debate among fans and pundits alike.Referee decision to award the free after Tom Phelan’s was deemed to have thrown away the ball.
Despite the contentious nature of the free kick, Carlow Manager Tom Mullally remained composed in his assessment of the game. Reflecting on his team’s performance, Mullally acknowledged the challenges they had faced in previous matches but praised their ability to adapt and remain calm under pressure.
“In a couple of the matches, we were disappointed with the second-half performance, so we just tried to jig it around a little bit. It worked, and when it works, everything is fine. A lot of days you try and it doesn’t work, and today Kilkenny might have been a little bit below par, maybe, in terms of performance, but that’s not to take away from our lads,” Mullally remarked.
He commended his players for their composure and belief in themselves as the game progressed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus for the challenges ahead. With two crucial matches against Wexford and Antrim on the horizon, Mullally emphasized the need for continued preparation and determination.
“The two matches that remain for us are Wexford and Antrim, and they’re huge matches for us, and they always have been. I don’t think our focus is gonna change from that as a result of today (drawing with Kilkenny). We’ve got eight days to get ourselves ready for Wexford. We’ve got big teams, big reputations coming to town. And it’s up to us to try and meet that,” Mullally stated.
Carlow’s unexpected result against Kilkenny has injected fresh unpredictability into the Leinster Championship race, with Dublin’s victory over Antrim further complicating the standings.
