Lee Chin of Wexford signs autographs for supporters after the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 4 match between Carlow and Wexford at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 4
Wexford 2-36 Carlow 1-13
By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park
Wexford were ruthless in this Leinster senior hurling championship round four tie with a convincing display which swept last year’s Joe McDonagh Cup winners aside at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
There had been speculation before the game that Carlow could cause a surprise but from a long way out there was only one winner.
Even though Rory O’Connor opened the scoring with a point for Wexford, Richie Coady and Chris Nolan, also raised white flags to give Carlow a glimpse of at least producing a performance.
Then it all went wrong. When Carlow keeper, Brian Tracey, had his attempted clearance blocked down, Conor McDonald fired home.
As Wexford piled on the pressure, a series of Carlow mistakes gifted possession back to the Model County and they punished the hosts severely. The entire starting full-forward line all featured on the scoreboard for Wexford in the first half while Lee Chin amassed 0-9 in the opening period from both placed balls and play.
Rory O’Connor also scored four points from play while McDonald added two points to his three-pointer.
The Carlow goal came when Paddy Boland won a tussle for possession, off-loaded to Conor Kehoe and he fired into the bottom left-hand corner of the net on 25 minutes.
Marty Kavanagh missed two frees which he would normally score but the Carlow forward also secured a brace before the half-time whistle. Ahead 1-21 to 1-7, Wexford had the points in the bag.
In anticipation of their visit to Antrim next week, Carlow needed something if not on the scoreboard but certainly a performance. Wexford just required to keep a level of intensity to this offering.
The home side fought hard. They came up against a brick wall. By the end all the Wexford substitutes featured on the scoreboard and when Chin left proceedings with time running out, he was cheered off the field by a jubilant Wexford following.
The second visiting goal came with nine minutes to go when McDonald sliced through the Carlow defence and found the net. Carlow lost John Michael Nolan to a second yellow.
The winners would have been delighted with this. They meet Kilkenny next week and will be looking for a place in the provincial final. On the other hand, it is back to the Joe McDonagh Cup for the Barrowsiders if they don’t beat Antrim in Corrigan Park next Sunday.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-13 (10fs), Conor McDonald 2-2, Rory O’Connor 0-5, Cathal Dunbar, Damien Reck, Conor Hearne, Tomás Kinsella 0-2 each, Liam Og McGovern, Mark Fanning, Richie Lawlor, Liam Ryan, Darragh Carley, Kevin Foley, Charlie McGuckin, Seamus Casey 0-1 each
Scorers for Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 0-5fs, Conor Kehoe 1-2, Chris Nolan 0-4, Paddy Boland, Richard Coady 0-1 each
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Shane Reck, Conor Foley, Eoin Ryan; Liam Ryan, Damien Reck, Matthew O’Hanlon; Conor Hearne, Mikie Dwyer; Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin, Liam Óg McGovern; Cathal Dunbar, Conor McDonald, Rory O’Connor.
Subs: Seamus Casey for Dwyer (42), Kevin Foley for Lawlor (56), Charlie McGuckin for McGovern (60), Simon Donohoe for L Ryan (65), Tomás Kinsella for Chin (67).
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Niall Bolger; Tony Lawlor, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Conor Lawlor, Richard Coady; John Michael Nolan, Jack McCullagh, Conor Kehoe; Chris Nolan, Marty Kavanagh, Paddy Boland.
Subs: Ciaran Whelan for Coady (h/t), James Doyle for McCullagh (h/t), Jack Kavanagh for Fitzpatrick (44), Scott Treacy for J Doyle (60), Jake Doyle for M Kavanagh (69).
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
