Kilkenny & Carlow clashed at UPMC Nowlan Park in the South Leinster Minor League which saw Kilkenny enter competitive minor football for the first time in a number of years. The end result saw Kilkenny gain an unprecedented draw but over the course of the 60 minutes Eoin Hennessy’s charges would be a tad unlucky not to have gained the victory. Freddie Gibson & Jack Corcoran had gotten Carlow into an early lead before Darragh Lyon’s got the understandably nervous Kilkenny minors on the board with a pointed free.
It was at times a cagey affair and the only other score of the half arrived when David Phelan sent a flying Harry Antonsea towards goal and the Graignamanagh dynamo duly sent the green flag waving. It left Kilkenny 1-1 to 0-3 ahead at the break. Carlow made a quadruple substitution at the half time break and two points from subs Jacob Curran & John Hendricken had the men from Carlow ahead by the 38th minute but Eoin Walpole hit back with a wondrous point after a dink & solo run. Lyon’s tagged on a pointed free before Carlow retook the lead through Palatines Dylan Farrell who finished a short 45 from Curran to leave Carlow 1-5 to 1-3 ahead after 48 minutes play.
At that stage, Carlow were full value for their lead but Kilkenny hit back when Walpole was taken down en route to goal. Up stepped Darragh O’Neill who slammed the ball to the roof of the net. Fiach Byrne levelled matters again with a fine point after neat play from Cormac McConnon. Walpole again went raiding forward that saw Darragh Lyons hammer home Kilkenny’s third goal with 52 odd minutes on the clock.
This game was really opening up and Daniel Brennan levelled it up again when he got through on goal thanks to a fine a side step. Lyons and Luke Byrne exchanged points before in the 64th minute it looked like a Carlow victory when Fiach Byrne popped over a 21.
Urged on by the home crowd who were making their voices heard at this stage, Darragh Horgan was fouled when a goal was maybe on. Lyons ensured a draw which sent many in the press box scurrying to find the last time Kilkenny at minor level had such a result. FT Kilkenny 3-5 2-8 Carlow
Kilkenny: Darragh O’Neill (Barrow Rangers), Liam Keogh (Bennettsbridge), Stephen O’Shea (Mullinavat), Blake Wheeler (Piltown), Cormac Diver (St Patrick’s), Eoin Walpole (Bennettsbridge), David Phelan (Kilmacow), Cian O’Reilly (Barrow Rangers), (Capt), Jack Stapleton (St Martins), Daniel Tallis (St Martin’s), Darragh Lyons (Kilmoganny), Harry Antonesa (Graignamanagh), Pauric Hanlon (Barrow Rangers), Conor Dillon (Danesfort), Peter Ward ( Railyard)
Subs: Darragh Horgan (Conahy Shamrocks), Jack Keating (Barrow Rangers), Sean Rea (James Stephen’s), Cillian Murphy (Graignamanagh)
Carlow: Aaron Doyle, Paddy Nolan, Sean Hourihane, Callum O’Brien Murphy, Daniel Brennan, Alex Donnolly Finn, Cathal Purcell, Freddie Gibson, Cormac McConnon, Radek Brzezinski, Jack Corcoran, Ronan Kelly, Dylan Farrell, Darragh Butler, Pat Murphy.
Subs: Luke Byrne, John Hendricken, Jacob Curran, Fiach Byrne, Edward Byrne.
Ref: Colin Bailey (Laois)
To view photos, click HERE
By Mary Morgan Tue 1st Apr
