Hetherton points way as Dubs defeat Carlow in Walsh Cup

Tue, 11th December 2018

WALSH CUP ROUND 1

DUBLIN 2-21 CARLOW 1-16

A scoring surge just at the three-quarter mark helped Dublin get their Walsh Cup campaign and Mattie Kenny’s new tenure off to a winning start at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow on Tuesday night.

The sides were level, 1-12 each, in the 47^th minute before Dublin put a bit of distance between the counties.

Points from Caolán Conway (two), two John Hetherton points (one free) and a 55^th minute goal from Fintan McGibb, when he pulled on the sliotar to the net from close range, propelled Kenny’s side into a 2-16 to 1-12 lead.

It was an advantage they were never in any trouble of losing as Dublin gave their bench action before the finish.

Dublin had led 1-8 to 0-8 at half-time with Eamonn Dillon’s 13^th minute goal, following a pass from the influential Fintan McGibb, the decisive scoreof the half.

The goal came during a dominant spell for Mattie Kenny’s men as they tallied 1-3 without reply between the ninth and 14^th minute to lead 1-4 to 0-2.

However, the hosts replied with six points in-a-row to edge in front 0-8 to 1-4 by the 28^th minute.

But Dublin scored four of the last five points of the opening period – all converted frees by John Hetherton.

Dublin host Offaly in Parnell Park this Sunday (2.0) in their second game.

SCORERS – Dublin: J Hetherton 0-10 (0-7f, 0-1 ‘65’), F McGibb 1-2, E Dillon 1-1, D Burke 0-4 (0-1f), C Conway 0-2, S Treacy, S Moran (0-1f) 0-1 each. Carlow: M Kavanagh 0-12 (0-10f), T Joyce 1-0, R Coady, J Murphy, C Nolan, J Nolan 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; S Barrett, B O’Carroll, L Gannon; T Connolly, S Moran, C Crummey; J Malone, Treacy; F Whitely, C Burke, F McGibb; J Hetherton, D Burke, E Dillon. Subs: C Conway for Dillon (32), R Hayes for Malone (46), C Ryan for Treacy (48), O O’Rorke for Dillon (63), D O’Flynn for McGibb (66), R Smith for Burke (62), D Gray for Hetherton (62).

CARLOW: B Tracey; A Corcoran, P Doyle, M Doyle; E Nolan, D English, R Coady; J Kavanagh, D Byrne; S Whelan, R Smithers, J Murphy; M Kavanagh, T Joyce, C Nolan. Subs: K McDonald for Whelan (ht), J Nolan for C Nolan (47), G Bennett for Coady (53).

REF: J Heffernan (Wexford).