Dublin 0-20
Carlow 0-9

A clinical second-half display helped Dublin ease to an 11-point success over Carlow in this evening’s Allianz HL Division 1 Group B contest at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Played in difficult conditions, Mattie Kenny’s men put a below-par first-half performance behind them to outscore their hosts by 0-14 to 0-5 after the break and run out comfortable winners.

The team in sky blue enjoyed more than their fair share of possession in the opening 35 minutes but had only six points to show for their efforts at the break.

The impressive Rian McBride raised three white flags in that period while Sean Moran (0-2) and Oisin O’Rorke found the target from placed balls.

At the opposite end of the field, three converted Marty Kavanagh frees and a John Michael Nolan point kept the Barrowsiders in touch and a low-scoring first-half finished with the visitors ahead by 0-6 to 0-4 ahead.

Whatever manager Mattie Kenny said to his troops during his half-time team-talk had the desired effect as there was a lot more purpose to their play on the resumption.

They issued a statement of intent with three unanswered points from half-time substitute Davy Keogh, Daire Gray and Chris Crummey

Kavanagh opened the home side’s second-half account in the 49th minute via a free but midfielder McBride sent over his fourth point of the contest shortly after.

Two quick-fire points from play by Kavanagh reduced Dublin’s lead to seven (0-14 to 0-7) with 13 minutes left on the clock but normal service was soon restored.

No finger of blame for the defeat can be pointed in the direction of Carlow goalkeeper Damien Jordan who put his body on the line on more than one occasion and was forced to retire after a brave save denied Ronan Hayes a goal in the 43rd minute.

Dublin - A Nolan; P Smyth, E O’Donnell, J Madden; C Crummey (0-2), D Gray (0-2), S Moran (0-2, 1f); J Malone, R McBride (0-4); J Hetherton, D Burke, M Schutte; O O’Rorke (0-3f), R Hayes, S Barrett. Subs: D Keogh (0-2) for M Schutte, C O’Callaghan for S Barrett, P Ryan (0-5, 3f, 1'65) for O O’Rorke, F McGibb for D Burke, A Dunphy for J Madden.

Carlow - D Jordan; R Smithers, P Doyle, M Doyle; R Coady, D English (0-1f), G Bennett; J Kavanagh, A Amond; J Nolan (0-2), M Kavanagh (0-6, 4f), K McDonald; T Joyce, P Coady, C Tracey. Subs: S Whelan for R Coady, C Abbey for D Jordan, Dean Tobin for R Smithers, Dara Tobin for P Coady, T Daly for A Amond.

Referee - T Walsh.

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