Carlow lost out to The Dubs at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday by ten points in the preliminary quarter-final of this year’s senior hurling championship
Having won the Joe McDonagh Cup just two weeks ago, The Barrowsiders faced off against Dublin in the preliminary quarter-final of this year’s senior hurling championship in Netwatch Cullen Park. It was going to be a tough task with Dublin finishing third in their group in the Leinster championship. Tom Mullally’s side came into the game as big underdogs, but within the camp, Carlow felt they had a great chance of causing a big upset.
The colour around Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday was magnificent, as the good weather brought out huge crowds to support both teams. Carlow started very well and by the first quarter had a two-point lead over their visitors, by the 25th minute the teams were level at 0-7 each but a couple of minutes later Carlow had regained their two-point lead. At the interval, the home team got a standing ovation from the supporters as they led the visitors by a single point 0-13 to 0-12.
The second half was tight up until the 42nd minute when the Dubs raised a green flag, Mark Grogan putting the sliotar past Brian Treacy. Carlow tried but just couldn’t bridge that gap, Dublin not giving up any easy scores.
The crowd played their part and made as much noise as they could and roared support at the team but it just wasn’t to be. Dublin finished the game off as a contest in the 72nd minute when they got their second goal with Cian O’Sullivan finishing off a nice move from the Dubs. Carlow may have lost by 10 points in the end but the story of the game was different to the end result. Carlow really put it up to the visitors and really didn’t deserve to lose by the end margin. A good year for the Barrowisders and they will now concentrate on the Leinster championship next year.
Pride
“Every day you go out you want to win. Ultimately, we’re disappointed. Just looking at all the colour and the crowd around and the atmosphere, I suppose the performance we put in for 60 minutes, you have to be proud of yourself or proud of the team and the county”, Richard Coady told Scoreline.ie immediately following the game.
“The strides we made this year to get to where we are has been a huge effort from everyone. It’s a proud but bittersweet kind of feeling at the minute, we don’t want moral victories. I don’t think it was a true reflection of the game with only eight minutes to go only two points in it. It’s a pity we couldn’t drive on, that little bit of experience from them or playing at the higher intensity told in the end. That’s where we have to get to, that’s where we’re aiming to be, and there are bigger days ahead for us.”
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