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Carlow dent Offaly pride Division Two

Division Two/ Carlow 3-12 Offaly 1-13 : Carlow pulled off a shock victory over Offaly in this promotion tie at Dr Cullen Park…

Mon Apr 11 2005 - 01:00

Division Two/ Carlow 3-12 Offaly 1-13: Carlow pulled off a shock victory over Offaly in this promotion tie at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

This is Carlow's first hurling win over their midland rivals since the Leinster championship of 1963, but it was a fully merited outcome.

Things looked to be going along expected lines when Offaly took a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes. But a Carlow goal from left corner forward Brendan Lawler tied the game and, more importantly, provided the momentum for the subsequent Carlow challenge.

With Gary Hanniffy dominant at centre back and Damien Murray proving his accuracy from frees, Offaly's greater maturity and cuteness saw them hold a 0-9 to 1-5 interval lead.

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Pat Coady had Carlow in front with a brace of pointed frees early in the second half. Then Coady's superb sideline cut troubled Offaly goalkeeper Brian Mullins and the loose ball was slammed to the Offaly net by Carlow full forward Des Murphy.

An Offaly goal on 40 minutes from substitute Kevin Brady left the minimum separating the sides, 2-11 to 1-13.

The Carlow response was an instant one. From the puck-out Carlow centre forward Mark Brennan went rampaging through the Offaly defence to set up Lawler for his second goal of the game. Carlow survived an injury-time penalty as Damien Murray's effort was saved on the line.

CARLOW: P Fenlon; E Coady, J Nevin, D Shaw; M Keating, S Kavanagh, S Watchorn; K English (0-1), D Roberts; Pat Coady (0-7, six frees), M Brennan (0-1), P Kehoe, R Dunbar (0-1); D Murphy (1-0), B Lawler (2-1). Subs: R Foley (0-1) for Dunbar, J Kavanagh for Kehoe, B Cox for Foley (yellow card), Paddy Coady for Brennan (inj), E Spruhan for Fenlon (yellow card).

OFFALY: B Mullins; N Claffey, P Healion, C Cassidy; D Hoctor, G Hanniffy, J Brady; G Oakley, M Cordial; B Carroll (0-1, free), M O'Hara (0-1), S Browne (0-2); C Parlon (0-1), R Hanniffy, D Murray (0-5, free). Subs: B Murphy (0-3) for O'Hara, A Hanrahan for Browne, P Mulhare for Oakley (yellow card), D Franks for Healion, K Brady (1-0) for Mulhare (yellow card), A McRedmond for Hoctor.

YELLOW CARDS: Carlow: R Foley, P Fenlon. Offaly: G Oakley, P Mulhare.

Referee: D Richardson (Limerick).