Carlow IT 0-16 Dublin IT 0-11:IT DID take them some time to warm to the task, but a clinical second-half performance was enough to secure the expected victory for a fancied Carlow IT team yesterday.
DIT were the quickest to adapt to the cold conditions and dead sod thanks to their wholehearted commitment and direct hurling, and they had moved into a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at half-time, thanks mainly to the free-taking of Dublin intercounty hurler David Treacy.
The match was won and lost in a 10-minute spell in the second period when Carlow IT scored five points without reply from the Dubliners and surged into a strong lead they never relinquished.
All-Ireland medal winning Kilkenny hurler TJ Reid landed seven points from frees for the winners.
CARLOW IT: E Mealey; J Culhane, D Kenny, J Carroll; B Harding, D Shaw, J Rigney (0-1); P Hally, R Doyle (0-1); C Kenny (0-1), TJ Reid 0-7 (frees), O Walsh; P Buggy (0-3), N Foyle (0-1), J Maher (0-1). Subs: T Carroll (0-1) for P Hally (46 mins), PJ Carroll for J Culhane (54 mins)
DUBLIN IT: F McGarry; L Prendergast , O Walsh, J Diviney; D Curran (0-2, frees), P Hartley, J Mulrooney; C O’Shaughnessy, B Campion; P Phelan, M Maloney (0-1), N Quinn; P Kenny , D Treacy (0-7, 6f, 1 sideline), P Morris. Subs: J McManus (0-1) for B Campion (37 mins), M Schutte for P Phelan (47 mins), P Elliott for P Kenny (56 mins)
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois)