Early blow to Waterford’s promotion hopes as Carlow make history
Waterford, photos: Noel Browne
NHL Division 1B
Carlow 2-21
Waterford 1-19
Promotion from Division 1B is already in jeopardy for Peter Queally as the Carlow hurlers pulled off their first ever win over Waterford on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The large away following trudged down the steps of the stand as the players left the field with heads down.
An upset was on the cards from very early on as Carlow outhunted and outhurled their Liam MacCarthy opponents. The soft pitch and the let it flow approach from referee Chris Mooney also helped the underdogs who dominated the skies and the physical stakes. Waterford didn’t fire for the first 20 minutes and fell six points behind. They did hit the front nine minutes into the second half, after Jamie Barron weaved his magic, but that lead only lasted a matter of seconds.
In the programme, GAA statistician Leo McGough informed spectators that the Déise had won the nine previous meetings between the two counties. Chris Nolan changed the record with 2-3 from play. The Mount Leinster Rangers attacker tormented both Seamus and Mark Fitzgerald. His over the shoulder point in front of the stand during the first half was simply sensational. In the last minute, with Carlow three points up, he wasn’t happy to tap the ball over. He went for the jugular and the sliotar trickled under Shaun O’Brien. All-time top scorer Martin Kavanagh weighed in with ten points. He also missed four frees.
The visitors arrived with only 23 fit players amid the current injury crisis. Austin Gleeson, Tadhg De Burca, Stephen Bennett, Conor Prunty, Dessie Hutchinson. Darragh Lyons and Iarlaith Daly all took their seats in the stand. Queally wanted the newbies to stake a claim for a jersey. They didn’t. In fact, it was 31 year old Jamie Barron who was Waterford's standout player. Setting out on his 13th season, the number 11 ran the show with four points and an assist for Sean Walsh’s goal. Very few in white and blue distinguished themselves. Conor Sheahan demonstrated his long range shooting ability with three points while Patrick and Padraig Fitzgerald showed flashes up front.
Michael Kiely started at wing back. His first game in that position since he was a minor in 2018. He nearly got the goal of the year when he soloed from one end to the other but Waterford missed his ball winning ability at full forward. That’s where he belongs.
Blue was the dominant colour in the stand when the turnstiles eventually opened just after one o’clock. The Déise fans vastly outnumbered their Carlow counterparts. A young Waterford fan even won a Carlow jersey in the half time raffle!
With a game under their belt, Carlow hit the ground running. Just like the Cork outing last month, Waterford started sluggishly. Chris Nolan and James Doyle split the posts inside 70 seconds. In the third minute, Nolan snapped a line ball from Martin Kavanagh and struck under the body of Shaun O’Brien. Kavanagh made it 1-3 to 0-0 on four minutes. Jack Prendergast burst forward for a badly needed Waterford point. Jamie Barron supplied younger brother Tom for another. Michael Kiely grabbed a high ball on his own 65 and soloed all the way up to the opposition 21 but nothing came of it. A stunning Chris Nolan point in front of Mark Fitzgerald and in front of the stand saw Carlow go six up again (1-7 to 0-4). It could have been worse for Waterford as Conor Kehoe blazed wide with the goal at his mercy.
The Déise switched to short puckouts and began to work the ball through the lines. Two Padraig Fitzgerald frees and a Patrick Fitzgerald point from play followed. After a slow start, Seamus Fitzgerald got stuck in at corner back and lifted the Waterford crowd. Six Kavanagh points left the Barrow men four in front at the interval (1-10 to 0-9). Conor Sheahan nailed his second long distance effort just before the break.
Both sides made two half time changes as Patrick Curran and Conor Keane entered the fray for the visitors. Keane showed enough to earn a start next weekend. Jamie Barron delivered his third point from the tightest of angles as Waterford showed more bite and narrowed the gap to two. Carlow sub Paddy Boland sent over a beauty in front of the stand.
After Fitzgerald missed his second free, Barron intercepted the subsequent puckout and split the posts again. On 44 minutes, Barron let the ball beat him and Kevin McDonald. He offloaded to Fourmilewater club mate Sean Walsh who found the far corner of the net and put Waterford ahead for the first time (1-12 to 1-11). The lead didn’t last long as Ciaran Whelan replied immediately. Boland plucked a high ball and slotted his second point to make it 1-16 to 1-14. Patrick Curran popped one over after a short passing move.
Two Padraig Fitzgerald singles levelled the contest at 1-17 apiece with twelve minutes left.
As the public address crackled, a monster Marty Kavanagh free flew over the black spot and edged Carlow in front again. The hosts intercepted the Waterford puckout and Chris Nolan capitalised. Carlow hit three wides before corner back Tony Lawlor increased the lead to three. A Waterford puckout flew over the sideline.
Patrick Fitzgerald got a point back but this was Carlow’s day in the sun. In the last minute, Chris Nolan got in behind Mark Fitzgerald and his shot crept under Shaun O’Brien. #CarlowRising is trending again.
An early setback and unwanted history for Peter Queally but no need to press the panic button just yet. A response is needed against Laois next Sunday in Walsh Park.
