SF Qualifier: Carlow comeback stuns Waterford
June 28, 2014
The Carlow team stand for the national anthem before the clash with Meath. INPHO
Carlow go into the bowl for the second round of the Qualifiers after this exciting 0-17 to 1-13 victory over Waterford at Dr Cullen Park.
Humiliated by Meath a fortnight ago, Anthony Rainbow's men restored pride in the county shirt today with a rousing display against a solid Waterford outfit, inspired by Paul Whyte and Liam O'Lonain. A pitch invasion after the final whistle showed what it means to their fans.
O'Lonain's goal two minutes from half time gave the Munster county a flattering 1-6 to 0-6 half-time lead. The visitors led by 0-2 to no score after eight minutes, with go-tom men O'Lonain and Whyte clipping over the points. Niall Carew's side had already hit three wides…
Seamus Kinsella got the Barrowsiders up and running but his point was quickly cancelled out by the lively Whyte. Playing into the teeth of a stiff breeze, Carlow were unfortunate to hit the woodwork three times within a bizarre ten-minute period in the first half.
Firstly, Daniel St Ledger's free struck a post; then Kinsella's did likewise; and when Ciaran Nolan broke through the densely-populated Waterford defence, his shot crashed back off the crossbar. To rub salt in the wound, Tom Prendergast took a nice point to stretch the gap at the other end.
Cathal Coughlan replied before Shane Briggs and Benny Kavanagh traded points coming up to the half-hour mark. The poor shooting was infectious and, for all Waterford's early wides, Carlow will feel that they should have been closer than within two points of their opponents with five minutes left in the opening period, 0-5 to 0-3.
Stephen Enright made an excellent point-blank save to keep the losers' lead intact before Briggs made it double scores with a delightful finish off the outside of his boot.
In a frantic finish to the first half, St Ledger and Coughlan knocked over frees to reduce the gap to one point before O'Lonain took advantage of a mistake at the back and drilled the loose ball to the back of the Carlow net: 1-6 to 1-5! Kinsella converted another Carlow free to close the first-half scoring.
Anthony Rainbow's men would have considered themselves extremely unfortunate to have been behind at the short whistle, but they knew they'd have the breeze at their backs upon the restart. The second half also brought a change of referee, with Padraig O'Sullivan replacing Cormac Reilly.
Whyte booted over a couple of Decies frees after the action resumed but Coughlan and St Ledger ('45') replied to leave the goal between them again.
O'Lonain made it a four-point match but Eoghan Ruth, Kavanagh and St Ledger (free) were on hand to fire points for the now-dominant Barrowsiders, who were within a point; Michael Meaney supplied the equaliser.
Kinsella and Nolan pointed to make it six without reply for the rampant hosts, who suddenly led by 0-14 to 1-9. Whyte and Foley traded scores as the gap remained at two with ten minutes left.
Waterford were refusing to read the script and a brace of Whyte frees - his sixth and seventh points of the match - tied the scores up again to set up a grandstand finale.
Late, late points from Jack Kennedy and St Ledger (free) edged Carlow towards the winning line and they held on despite a last-gaps converted Whyte free. While it's joy for Carlow, Waterford have had a luckless year.
Carlow - A O'Brien; R Mahon, C Lawlor, BJ Molloy; K Nolan (0-1), D St Ledger (0-4, 3f, 1'45), B Kavanagh (0-2); E Ruth (0-1), H Gahan; M Meaney (0-1), C Moran, D Bambrick; D Foley (0-1), S Kinsella (0-3, 2f), C Coughlan (0-3, 1f). Subs: W Minchin for H Gahan, G Power for R Mahon, J Kennedy (0-1) for C Moran (BC), J Lowry for B Kavanagh, M Ware for D Foley (BC).
Waterford - S Enright; D Crowley, T O'Gorman, Maurice O'Gorman; W Hutchinson, S Briggs (0-2), O Keevers; S Ahearne, T Prendergast (0-1); D Grey, L O Lionain (1-2), T O Huallachain; B Wall, P Whyte (0-8, 5f), JJ Hutchinson. Subs: M Curry for D Grey, D Allen for B Wall, C O'Keeffe for W Hutchinson, Michael O'Gorman for T O Huallachain, N Walsh for D Crowley.
Referee - C Reilly, P O'Sullivan.
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