Hurling

Joe McDonagh Cup

Carlow 1-29 Offaly 0-14

By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park

Carlow and Offaly will meet again in the Joe McDonagh Cup final in two weeks’ time. After beating Kildare last weekend, the Faithful County were already through to the decider, but Carlow needed to win at Netwatch Cullen Park to ensure a safe passage.

Offaly made 11 changes from last week's victory and Carlow ripped through the visitors in the first half with Marty Kavanagh converting five frees and a 65 while James Doyle picked off three points from play. All around the field, Carlow chased and harried the opposition, who were forced into mistakes and were turned over far too often.

With three points Shane Dooley was Offaly’s leading scorer in the half as they trailed 0-16 to 0-6 at the interval.

It was Carlow’s to lose now. While Offaly were weakened, it will be a worry that few of the players were at their best level. The home side continued to dominate. If Kavanagh was depending on points from placed balls in the opening period, he opened up after the break firing over four on the trot from play.

The goal came on 43 minutes when Kavanagh made space, passed to Conor Kehoe and his fellow St Mullins clubman found the net. There was nothing in the Offaly set-up which they could have been too happy about. Only full-back, Ben Conneely, stood up to the Carlow attack and the home intensity lasted from beginning to end.

So Carlow will be working hard to dampen expectations. Carlow know they will have to beat Offaly again to lift the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Scorers for Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 0-14 (7fs 65), Chris Nolan 0-5 (1 sl), Conor Kehoe (1-1), James Doyle 0-3, Paddy Boland 0-2, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, John Michael Nolan, Kevin McDonald, Jon Nolan 0-1 each

Scorers for Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-7 (4fs), Dara Maher 0-2, James Nally, Paddy Delaney, Liam Langton, John Murphy, Eimhin Kelly 0-1 each.

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawler, Jack McCullagh; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack Kavanagh; Kevin McDonald, James Doyle; Jon Nolan, Marty Kavanagh, Conor Kehoe; John Michael Nolan, Paddy Boland, Chris Nolan.

Subs: Fiach O’Toole for Kehoe (60), Niall Bolger for P Doyle (62), Richard Coady for J. M. Nolan (65), Jack Treacy for C Nolan (67), Paudie O’Shea for M Kavanagh (69).

Offaly: Eamonn Cleary; Conor Hardiman, Ben Conneely, James Nally; Dara Maher, Killian Sampson, Eoghan Parlon; Paddy Delaney, Jack Screeney; Liam Langton, Joey Keenaghan, Conor Langton; Cathal O’Meara, Shane Dooley, John Murphy.

Subs: David King for Keenaghan (36 blood), Paddy Clancy for Sampson (h/t), Eimhin Kelly for O’Meara (h/t), King for Langton (52), Jack Clancy for Screeney (64),

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)