Kavanagh's late free sees Carlow claim remarkable draw with Kilkenny in Leinster SHC

May 11, 2024

Carlow's Chris Nolan and Martin Kavanagh celebrate after the game ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Marty Kavanagh’s late, late free saw Carlow snatch a famous 1-20 to 1-20 draw against 14-man Kilkenny in the third round of the Leinster senior hurling championship this evening.

Tom Mullally’s men came from eight down in the glorious sunshine at Netwatch Cullen Park to claim their first point in this year’s Bob O’Keeffe Cup race, denying the Cats a second win in the process.

Owen Wall’s goal after five minutes had all signs pointing to the holders keeping to script as they went on to open an early 1-4 to 0-2 lead, and despite losing Killan Doyle to a red card, Derek Lyng’s side would carry in a 1-11 to 0-9 advantage at the interval.

Points from ‘Man of the Match’ Kavanagh and Chris Nolan kept the hosts in the fight through the third quarter and they’d be lifted by a timely Conor Kehoe goal heading down the home stretch.

Kavanagh and Donagh Murphy sailed over points that remarkably levelled it for Carlow ahead of a TJ Reid brace in injury-time seemingly serving to avoid the upset for Kilkenny.

However, there’d still be time for Fiachra Fitzpatrick to one shoot over and leave the crowd on the edge of their seats and, in the end, it was Kavanagh’s free that secured a deserved draw for the Joe McDonagh Cup holders.

The result now sees Kilkenny sitting second in the Leinster SHC table with Dublin occupying top spot following their emphatic 3-32 to 1-18 win over Antrim this afternoon.

Paul Crummey, Brian Hayes and Donal Burke (1-11) grabbed the goals in the capital men’s 20-point victory at Parnell Park.


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