Senior hurlers improve in second-half to secure victory

HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

DUBLIN 3-15 CARLOW 0-18

Dublin improved in the second-half to get their NHL1B campaign off to a winning start at Parnell Park on Saturday night in very difficult conditions.

The Dubs trailed by two points at the break, 1-6 to 0-11, but restarted with intent with points from Fiontan McGibb and sub Donal Burke.

Burke's impact on the second-half was telling as he tallied 1-4 from play while fellow sub Danny Sutcliffe also played a leading role in several key scores during the second period.

Eamonn Dillon's goal in the fourth minute of the second-half added to Dublin's momentum and when he pointed in the 43rd minute, after brilliantly controlling the sliotar, Mattie Kenny's side were 2-9 to 0-11 clear.

The Dubs were the stronger team after the change of ends and would have won more comfortably but for the goalkeeping heroics of Carlow's Brian Treacy who produced impressive saves to deny Dillon and McGibb at different stages of the half.

Donal Burke did get Dublin's third goal seven minutes from the end of normal time, following good work by Eamonn Dillon, to move his side 3-14 to 0-18 clear.

Despite making an impressive start Dublin flatlined as the opening half progressed to trail 1-6 to 0-11 at the break.

Early points from Fergal Whitely and Fiontan McGibb had Dublin 0-2 to 0-1 to the good before Darragh O'Connell struck for goal in the third minute following good work by John Hetherton.

Carlow responded with points from Martin Kavanagh (free) and Ted Joyce before Eammon Dillon fired over in the 11th minute for the hosts to lead 1-3 to 0-3.

However, Dublin failed to score again for 14 minutes as Carlow held the upperhand and the freetaking of Martin Kavanagh and scores from play from Seamus Murphy and Joyce had Colm Bonnar's men 0-11 to 1-5 up two minutes into first-half added time.

In the third minute of injury-time a John Hetherton free after a foul on Eamonn Dillon left the Barrowsiders two points to the good at the interval.

“It was a difficult night for hurling," said Dublin manager Mattie Kenny.

“Everyone is aware now that for a lot of the guys out there, it was their third game in six days. But in fairness to the guys, they stepped it up in the second half. They put in a very strong second-half.

“The substitutes coming off the bench made a big impact too. It’s good to see Danny back in there. And Donal Burke came in – I think Donal shot 1-4, which is a huge contribution for him in the second-half.”

SCORERS – Dublin: D Burke 1-4, E Dillon 1-1, J Hetherton 0-4 (0-3f), D O’Connell 1-0, F McGibb 0-2, F Whitely, T Connolly, P Smyth, O O’Rorke (0-1f) 0-1 each. Carlow: M Kavanagh 0-12 (0-9f), T Joyce, C Nolan 0-2 each, S Murphy, J Doyle 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; P Smyth, E O’Donnell, J Madden; C Crummey, S Moran, S Barrett; J Malone, D O’Connell; F Whitely, J Hetherton, F McGibb; R McBride, L Rushe, E Dillon. Subs: T Connolly for Madden (9), D Burke for Whitely (ht), D Sutcliffe for Rushe (48), D Keogh for Malone (60), O O’Rorke for McGibb (67).

CARLOW: B Tracey; A Corcoran, P Doyle, M Doyle; E Nolan, D English, R Coady; J Kavanagh, S Whelan; JM Nolan, S Murphy, E Byrne; C Nolan, T Joyce, M Kavanagh. Subs: J Doyle for Murphy (43), J Nolan for Joyce (49), R Kelly for E Nolan (58), G Coady for Byrne (63), J Murphy for M Doyle (63).

REF: A Kelly (Galway).