Kildare annihilated by rampant Carlow in Joe McDonagh opener

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 1

Carlow 5-23

Kildare 0-19

It was like men against boys, and young boys at that but in fairness to Kildare manager David Herity he failed to blame the fact that Kildare played only six days previously while Carlow had three full weeks to prepare for this opening game in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Played in front of a very disappointing small attendance Kildare had a great chance to get off to a great start when Brian Byrne was put through on goal but Conor Lawlor made a brilliant block to snuff out that early chance.
That was after some 30 seconds or so and incredibly as it may seem that is about as good as it got for Kildare.

The Lilies were thorn to shreds soon after when their short passing game in tight situations saw them being dispossessed time and time again; the first led to the opening goal after just four minutes when Paul Doyle found Paddy Boland the Carlow full forward found the net for the first of his first half trio of goals.

Jon Nolan dispossessed Brian Byrne a minute later and fired over an while Kildare hit two wides another miss-placed pass, this time from Conan Boran saw Conor Kehoe being denied by Paddy McKenna, the resultant 65 was fired over by Martin Kavanagh.

David Qualter opened the Kildare account in the ninth minute before a long ball in from Kevin McDonald broke and there to pull first time to net was that man Paddy Boland.

Seven points in a row from a rampant Carlow side, Kildare still to get a second score, saw the home side lead 2-9 to 0-1 with just 19 minutes on the clock.
From a Kildare point of view it was hard looking as players in white failed to deal with the Carlow physicality right from the throw-in.

James Burke finally got The Lilies second point from a free; Cathal Dowling got one back but there was no stopping the onslaught; point after point before goal no. 3 arrived 26 minutes in; Paddy Boland bringing up is hat-trick of green flags on 26 minutes — Carlow 3-11 Kildare 0-3.

Brian Byrne was moved up front, vacating his sweeping role but it made little difference as goal no. 4 soon arrived, Martin Kavanagh providing the chance for Conor Kehoe who took it with aplomb.

David Qualter and James Burke (free) raised white flags for The Lilies before half-time with the score board reading: Carlow 4-13 Kildare 0-5.

Carlow's first half total would win most games and with 35 minutes to come one just wondered if Tom Mullally's side kept up this the final score could be anything.

The second half did show some improvement from Kildare, or some might say Carlow eased off somewhat, but whatever.
James Burke converted a free for the first score of the second half but two similar scores from the accurate Martin Kavanagh showed that Carlow still had plenty in the tank.

Three points in a row, all frees from James Burke, who in fairness had his eye back in after suffering an off-day just six days previously, but another Kavanagh free followed by a fifth goal, once again coming from a long ball that was not cleared, saw Conor Kehoe raise his second green flag of the afternoon on 46 minutes, Carlow now leading 5-16 to 0-9.

James Burke was fouled in the 55 minute; the referee (stand-in after the original whistler picked up an injury and replaced at half-time) pointed to the spot; Kevin McDonald picking up a black card. Up came 'keeper Paddy McKenna but his l effort went left and wide, just to add to Kildare's misery on the day.

Martin Kavanagh added a point from play for Carlow before Kildare hit five points in a row from Cathal McCabe, three from Brian Byrne (2 frees) and one from Gerry Keegan.
But there was no stopping the Carlow attack and points from Kavanagh, James Doyle and Kavanagh again saw the lead out to 5-21 to 0-16.

Kildare added two before the long whistle, from Mark Delaney; a Gerry Keegan goal attempt was repelled by keeper Brian Tracey; Conor Kehoe and Chris Nolan added points for Carlow before the last point of the game came from Cathal McCabe as the final whistle arrived with the score board reading Carlow 5-23 Kildare 0-18.
Incredible or what!

SCORERS
Carlow: Martin Kavanagh 0-12 (9 frees, 65), Paddy Boland 3-0, Conor Kehoe 2-2, James Doyle 0-4, Chris Nolan 0-3, Diarmuid Byrne 0-1, Jan Nolan 0-1.

Kildare: James Burke 0-10 (10 frees), David Qualter 0-2, Cathal McCabe 0-2, Cathal Dowling 0-1, Gerry Keegan 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1, Mark Delaney 0-1, Johnny Byrne 0-1.

TEAMS
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, JP Tracey; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack McCullagh; James Doyle, Kevin McDonald; Jack Kavanagh, Martin Kavanagh, Conor Kehoe; Jack Tracey, Paddy Boland, Chris Nolan. Jack Tracey for Jon Nolan (blood sub 20-35); John Michael Nolan for JP Treacy (53 minutes); Niall Bolger for Conor Lawlor (51 minutes); Jack Tracey for Paddy Bland (67 minutes); Fiach O'Toole for Jon Nolan (70 minutes); Richard Coady for Martin Kavanagh (71 minutes).

Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Niall Ó Muineacháin, Simon Leacy, John McKeon; Paul Dolan, Rian Boran, Rian Boran, Conan Boran; Johnny Byrne, Cathal McCabe; James Burke, Gerry Keegan, Cian Boran; Brian Byrne, David Qualter, Cathal Dowling. Subs: Jack Travers for John McKeon (half-time); Declan Flaherty for Paul Dolan (half-time); Mark Delaney for Brian Byrne (52 minutes); Sean Christanseen for David Qualter (58 minutes); Cian Shanahan for Cian Boran (67 minutes).

REFEREE: Colum Cunning, Antrim; injured, replaced by Calum Flynn, Westmeath at half-time.