Carlow hurling attacker Eddie Byrne says his side raised their game on Saturday last to overcome UCD in the Walsh Shield quarter-final.

Kevin Ryan's team scored 2-14, 2-9 of which came from Paudie Kehoe, to dispose of the Dublin students and book their place into the competition's semi-finals along side Antrim.

"The performance in the second-half picked up," said Byrne

"The first-half was a bit sloppy. Our first touch wasn't good and we were missing balls. In the second-half the intensity improved and when you bring that up everything else improves.

"By bringing that up we are gearing up for the league."

The game saw Carlow net-minder Kevin Kehoe make an outstanding save in the dying stage and Byrne knows that players like him will be getting chances ahead of the National League campaign which starts on February 21.

"It was a good save. It is his first year on the panel and it will be interesting to see how he comes along. That is what these games are about.

"Giving lads a run and seeing how they are getting on and what they are like," he added. Tweet

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