Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 Wexford 2-36, Carlow 1-13 The carnage many expected the previous week against Kilkenny didn’t come to pass, Carlow eking out a deserved draw against the black and amber. Alas, the carnage arrived a week later when Wexford came to town, the purple and gold playing some fine hurling in […]
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 3
Wexford 2-36, Carlow 1-13
The carnage many expected the previous week against Kilkenny didn’t come to pass, Carlow eking out a deserved draw against the black and amber. Alas, the carnage arrived a week later when Wexford came to town, the purple and gold playing some fine hurling in sunny conditions to register a huge Netwatch Cullen Park victory and move closer to a Leinster final place and a place in the knock out stages of the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
It was always going to be a tough ask so soon after the mental ‘high’ of the surprise draw with reigning Leinster champions to reach the same energy levels against a fresher Wexford team who, also on a high after an impressive win over Galway, had a fortnight to recalibrate. It got tougher when basic Carlow errors gifted the purple and gold an early platform and, alas, that set the tone and by games end that unhealthy 26 points separated the South East neighbours.
The early exchanges in front of a Wexford dominated crowd of just over 7,000 were simply amazing, just 1 minute 33 seconds on the scoreboard clock and it was 1-1 to 0-2 in the visitors favour. The opening point from the stick of Rory O’Connor came in just the 18th second after a Carlow forward’s first touch let him down but the response was positive and a quick puck-out yielded home veteran Richie Coady a levelling point on 38 seconds before a trademark Chris Nolan run-and-shot gave the red, yellow and green the lead with just 59 seconds on the clock. Were we in for another famous day at the Rathnapish venue?
Then, just as against Galway in Salthill and Kilkenny last week Carlow conceded an early goal, this one with a minute and a half gone and, alas, it was a giveaway when after a necklace of Carlow passes had been worked back to goalkeeper Brian Tracey his attempted clearance was intercepted an poacher Conor McDonald located the Carlow net at the Deerpark end. In fairness to Brian he made a couple of good stops later on.
However that goal, allied to a couple of missed frees from the usually reliable Mouse proved early momentum swings and by the 21st minute the Model County, surprisingly beaten by Antrim in Belfast in Round 2, had swept into a commanding 1-16 to 0-4 lead and really, it was damage limitation for Carlow after that.
Mind you, there was a mini-Carlow rally that saw Mouse point a free won by Richie Coady and then Conor Kehoe, the goal scoring hero against Kilkenny, cut through for another well taken goal, finishing low and hard from 20m having been put through by the Mouse. That green flag, would you believe was Carlow’s first major against Wexford in the championship, having failed to beat the Wexford net guardian in three previous meetings.
Last week we informed readers of the gulf that previously existed between Kilkenny and Carlow and, dare say, no one was too surprised that that gulf over seven senior meetings averaged out at 5-18 to 1-9, a 21 gap. Hence the excitement at drawing with the Cats. Today we will reveal the gulf that previously existed between Wexford and Carlow and, dare say, some people, given that Wexford in their eyes don’t carry the same menace as Kilkenny, will be surprised with the figures.
In the 18 previous meetings of Wexford’s and Carlow’s flagship hurlers in all competitions (3 SHC, 10 NHL, 5 Walsh Cup) the purple and gold have scored 57-293, Carlow 13-213 in the course of which the Model County won 17, the Barrowsiuders 1. That works out at an average of 3-16 to 1-12. Confine it just to championship meetings, all three of which prior to last Sunday were in Wexford Park (2012 Qualifier, Wexford 4-12, Carlow 0-14; 2013 Qualifier, Wexford 2-16, Carlow 0-20 and 2019 Leinster, Wexford 2-28, Carlow 0-19) and the average again shows a 10 points difference, 3-19 to 0-18. So if bridging the 21 point gap with Kilkenny exceeded all expectations, then Wexford winning 2-36 to 1-13 surpassed our worst fears.
When Lee Chin pointed a late first half free he brought his sides tally to 1-20, matching what it took Kilkenny 70 minutes to compile against Carlow the previous Saturday and a superb 34th minute Rory O’Connor point saw the sides retire to the dressing rooms with Wexford 1-21 to 1-7 clear.
‘Win the second half’ is often a mantra for teams well behind at the break and perhaps that was the Carlow mantra too but with the sting gone out of the game as a contest the second half was more akin to an exhibition game, Wexford winning the half 1-15 to 0-6 while Carlow were reduced to 14 players when John Michael Nolan picked up a second yellow card in the 64th minute.
Wexford’s second goal had come two minutes earlier, again from the stick of Conor McDonald, a well worked score it was too, a score that brought his personal tally to 2-3 while Rory O’Connor chipped in with five top quality points from play and Lee Chin top-scored with 0-13, three from play, 10 placed balls. Indeed Wexford had a massive 14 different scorers from play including goalkeeper Mark Fanning and 0-5 from four of their five subs.
Carlow in contrast had just four scorers from play, Conor Kehoe topping the list with a high standard 1-2 while Chris Nolan piloted over four fine points. Mouse, closely marked but Damien Reck, didn’t score from play and had a mixed day with the frees too.
Carlow could not be faulted on the count of effort in the second half but you’d have to think by then their minds were on Belfast the following Sunday and a massive relegation battle. Remember this time last year Wexford had to beat Kilkenny in their last game to avoid relegation to the Joe McDonagh. Now 12 months on the purple and gold are potential Leinster champions.
Carlow, having gained promotion in the league and guaranteed high standard games next winter must do all in their power to stay up in the championship as a Division 1B NHL campaign would be ideal preparation for the 2025 Provincial SHC. The alternative is a return to Tier 2 hurling, a backward step and a major setback.
Yes, West Belfast next Sunday is MASSIVE.
– CARLOW –
1. Brian Tracey (Naomh Eoin, Myshall)
2. Paul Doyle (St Mullins)
3. Dion Wall (Ballinkillen)
4. Conor Lawlor (Carlow Town)
5. Tony Lawlor (Mount Leinster Rangers, Ballymurphy, Rathanna, Borris)
6. Kevin McDonald (Mount Leinster Rangers, Ballymurphy, Rathanna, Borris)
7. Niall Bolger (Bagenasltown Gaels)
8. Richie Coady (Mount Leinster Rangers, Ballymurphy, Rathanna, Borris) 0-1
9. Jack McCullagh (Bagenalstown Gaels)
10. Fiachra Fitzpatrick (Mount Leinster Rangers, Ballymurphy, Rathanna, Borris)
11. Chris Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers, Ballymurphy, Rathanna, Borris) 0-4
12. Conor Kehoe (St Mullins) 1-2
13. Marty Kavanagh (St Mullins) 0-5 5f
14. John Michael Nolan (Naomh Eoin, Myshall)
15. Paddy Boland (St Mullins) 0-1
Subs: Ciaran Whelan (Ballinkillen) for R Coady (h-t)
James Doyle (St Mullins) for J McCullagh (h-t)
Jack Kavanagh (St Mullins) for F Fitzpatrick (44)
Scott Treacy (Naomh Eoin, Myshall) for J Doyle (60)
Jake Doyle (Bagenalstown Gaels) for M Kavanagh (69)
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
– WEXFORD –
1. Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barnstown) 0-1
2. Liam Ryan (Enniscorthy Rapparees) 0-1
3. Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
4. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James’)
5. Eoin Ryan (St Anne’s, Rathangan)
6. Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien) 0-2
7. Conor Foley (Horeswood)
8. Conor Hearne (Shelmaliers) 0-2
9. Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers) 0-1
10. Liam Óg McGovern (St Anne’s Rathangan) 0-1
11. Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna, Gorey) 0-2
12. Rory O’Connor (St Martin’s) 0-5
13. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna, Gorey) 2-3
14. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers) 0-13 10f
15. Mikie Dwyer (St Mogue’s, Fethard)
Subs: Seamus Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrien) 0-1 for M Dwyer (43)
Kevin Foley (Enniscorthy Rapparees) 0-1 for R Lawlor (57)
Charlie McGuckin (Naomh Eanna, Gorey) 0-1 for L Og McGovern (61)
Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers) for L Ryan (66)
Tomás Kinsella (Askamore) 0-2 for L Chin (68)
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PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Championship
2012: Wexford Park, Wexford 4-12, Carlow 0-14
2013: Wexford Park, Wexford 2-16, Carlow 0-20
2019: Wexford Park, Wexford 2-28, Carlow 0-19
8-56 (80) to 0-53 (53)
3-19 to 0-18
League
1961-62: Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, Wexford 6-9, Carlow 1-3
1962-63: Bellefield, Enniscorthy, Wexford 5-13, Carlow 3-6
1963-64: O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, Wexford 5-10, Carlow 0-6
1964-65: Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, Wexford 7-8, Carlow 3-5
1981-82: McGrath Park, Bagenalstown, Wexford 4-17, Carlow 0-10
1994-95: Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, Wexford 1-18, Carlow 1-9
2009: Wexford Park, Wexford 6-21, Carlow 0-14
2010: Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, Wexford 0-13, Carlow 0-16
2013: Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, Wexford 2-15, Carlow 0-16
2020: Wexford Park, Wexford 2-19, Carlow 1-11
38-143 9-96
4-14 to 1-10
Cup
1963: Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, Wexford 3-13, Carlow 4-6
2016: Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, Wexford 1-21, Carlow 0-7
2017: Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, Wexford 3-20, Carlow 0-14
2018: Shelmaliers, Hollymount, Wexford 1-20, Carlow 0-18
2024: Wexford Park, Wexford 3-20, Carlow 0-19
11-94 to 4-64
2-19 to 1-13
Played 18, Wexford 17, Carlow 1
57-293 to 13-213
3-16 to 1-12
