Sport

Bright start to Bealin's tenure

Carlow 3-13 Kilkenny 1-6: Paul Bealin's reign as Carlow football manager started on a positive note with a merited 13-point …

Mon Jan 07 2008 - 00:00

Carlow 3-13 Kilkenny 1-6:Paul Bealin's reign as Carlow football manager started on a positive note with a merited 13-point victory over neighbours Kilkenny in this competitive O'Byrne Cup opening round tie in front of an attendance of 1,000 at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

Carlow led from the first minute when Bryan Carbery cut through for a neat point from play. But Kilkenny provided stubborn opposition. Midfielders Don Brennan and Michael O'Mahoney more than held their own while full forward John Maher was very accurate from play and frees.

With Carlow amassing 14 first-half wides, including a missed penalty on 11 minutes from Simon Rea, it left Kilkenny in the game. By half-time the home side led 0-9 to 0-3 - Kilkenny had not registered a wide.

Twelve minutes into the second half Simon Rea picked out Eric McCormack from a quickly taken line kick and the latter shot to the net to extend Carlow's lead to 1-11 to 0-4. Further home goals followed from Rea and substitute John Amond as Carlow finished strongly, showing the benefit of Bealin's training regime of recent weeks.

READ MORE

The Kilkenny goal came from a well-taken penalty by Eddie Brennan in the 57th minute, which left the score 2-11 to 1-6. Simon Rea was Carlow's top scorer with 1-6 and 10 home players made the scoresheet, which will have pleased their new manager.

Carlow now advance to meet Wexford away on Sunday next in a game that pits Paul Bealin against the county he formerly managed.

New Kilkenny manager Tom Brennan will have been pleased his side were keen and competitive throughout. Kilkenny now face Laois away in an O'Byrne Shield tie on Sunday next before starting a first National Football League campaign in a decade.

CARLOW:J Clarke; J Roche, J Hayden, M Nolan; P Cashin, J Kehoe, J Ryan (0-1); D Byrne (0-1), R Walker (0-1); R Sinnott (0-1), B Carbery (0-1), M Carpenter (0-1), S Rea (1-6, 0-3 frees), J Murphy (0-1), E McCormack (1-0). Subs:K Doyle for Sinnott (40 minutes), S Gannon for Carbery, J Amond (1-0)for Walker, E Doyle for Kehoe, N Barrett for Rea.

KILKENNY:R Lynch; JJ Brennan, P Mullins, S Flynn; P Donovan, P Maher, H Flood; D Brennan (0-2),M O'Mahony; D Herity, S O'Mahony, E Brennan (1-0, pen),P Sheehan, J Maher (0-4, 0-2 frees),A McGovern. Subs:K Slattery for S O'Mahony; M Doyle for Flynn (injured); G Lawlor for Sheehan; P Demelty for D Brennan.

Referee: M Deegan(Laois).