Leinster MFC Round 1 Carlow 2-11 Wexford 3-18 While the outcome may not have been the desired one, Carlow Minor Footballers produced a competitive and encouraging showing against a Wexford side who started the contest with that little bit more purpose. Carlow’s performances in recent challenge games had been a mixed bag to say the […]
Leinster MFC Round 1
Carlow 2-11
Wexford 3-18
While the outcome may not have been the desired one, Carlow Minor Footballers produced a competitive and encouraging showing against a Wexford side who started the contest with that little bit more purpose.
Carlow’s performances in recent challenge games had been a mixed bag to say the least, but this particular showing left onlookers with a fair bit to be optimistic about despite that margin of defeat.
As mentioned above, Wexford hit the ground running and it took Carlow a long time to settle properly, but by half time it was all to play for as Eoin Ryan’s handed effort found it’s way to the net, while the impressive Aaron Dowling and Daire Byrne had sourced the points previously to leave it 0-10 to 1-2 at half time.
The killer moment in the game arrived five minutes into the second half when a defensive mix up resulted in Tom Funge easily finding the net and it was now 1-12 to 1-4.
It didn’t get any better initially as Abram O’Neill added a second goal for the travelling side and a penalty from Darren Rossiter on 53 minutes could’ve properly opened the floodgates, but this is where Carlow showed some real fight.
Brynn Nolan off the bench impressed, with Dowling and Craddock getting on more ball also. Cillian Molloy netted approaching the end of normal time while Nolan and Craddock added points to leave the scoreline looking a bit more respectable than it had been 10 minutes before hand.
In previous encounters, Carlow had struggled in the second half and also at times lacked resilience and self belief, however this time out – and in particular late on, they corrected those previous flaws and this is bound to stand to them going forward.
These chaps can all play ball. Ross Moran, Dowling, Craddock and Brynn Nolan looked really good in particular on the ball last night, with others showing plenty of promise also.
It’s Wicklow next on Tuesday week and these guys most certainly have what it takes to drive on if they back themselves and go at the Garden county with real intent and the right attitude.
They converted 72% of their shots at goal and won 67% of their own kickouts which definitely endorses their capabilities.
Onwards and upwards for Mick Kehoe’s charges.
Carlow scorers: Eoin Ryan (1-2), Aaron Dowling (0-4), Brynn Nolan (0-3), Cillian Molloy (1-0), Daire Byrne (0-1), Ian Craddock (0-1).
Subs used: Darragh Burrows for Ruane and Brynn Nolan for Lawler (both 34 mins), Mark Buggy for Corcoran (40 mins), Cillian Molloy for Ryan (49 mins), Adam Cleary for Curran (52 mins).
