Gaelic Games

Tailteann Cup: Carlow claim landmark win over Tipperary to make quarter-finals

Sam McCarten’s goal gets Westmeath home against midlands rivals Laois

Carlow's Darragh Foley celebrates the win over Tipperary in the first round of the Tailteann Cup at Netwatch Cullen Park. Photograph: Evan Treacy/Inpho
Carlow's Darragh Foley celebrates the win over Tipperary in the first round of the Tailteann Cup at Netwatch Cullen Park. Photograph: Evan Treacy/Inpho
Sun May 29 2022 - 18:09

Carlow 1-12 Tipperary 1-10

Thrilled. Delighted. Hugely satisfied. It may only have been a Round One Tailteann Cup encounter but try telling that to Carlow manager Niall Carew, who hailed a landmark win for the county.

Summertime wins are thin on the ground for the Barrowsiders so making it through to next weekend’s quarter-finals, and dumping 2020 Munster champions Tipp out of the competition, was significant.

Niall Hickey’s goal just before half-time ultimately separated the teams though it was a powerful second-half performance that won this game for hosts Carlow.

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A point behind at half-time, 1-5 to 1-4, they finished strongly and outscored Tipp by 0-8 to 0-4 in the closing 25 minutes or so with Colm Hulton, Jamie Clarke and Seánie Bambrick contributing vital scores.

“This is why you train,” said Carew. “It’s not about winning trophies, it’s about days like today. Sure, you’d love get a medal or a trophy but for us, this will propel us forward.”

CARLOW: C Cunningham; D Curran, M Bambrick, L Roberts; S Clarke, S Bambrick (0-1), C Doyle (0-1); E Ruth (0-2), J Clarke (0-2); J Moore, N Hickey (1-0), D O’Brien; C Hulton (0-2), C Crowley (0-1), D Foley (0-1, free).

Subs: R Dunphy (0-2) for O’Brien (8 mins), S Buggy for Doyle (47), C Lomax for Moore (68), J McCabe for S Bambrick (70).

TIPPERARY: M O’Reilly; J Feehan, Shane O’Connell (0-1), W Eviston; K Fahey, C O’Shaughnessy, Seán O’Connell (0-1); C Kennedy, M Russell; M Kehoe (1-0), J Kennedy (0-1), T Doyle; M O’Shea, C Sweeney (0-3, two frees), S O’Connor (0-2, two frees).

Subs: S Quirke for O’Connor (h/t), L McGrath (0-2) for Russell & J Lonergan for Kehoe (51 mins), J Harney for Sean O’Donnell (56), S O’Brien for Doyle (62).

Referee: C Reilly (Meath).

Laois 0-13 Westmeath 1-13

A goal from Sam McCarten 10 minutes into the second half was the crucial score as Westmeath came from behind to get the better of midland rivals Laois in O’Moore Park.

After being hit for 5-15 by Wicklow in the Leinster championship, Laois came in as massive outsiders here.

But they looked to be in a good position early in the second half when they were three points up and Westmeath were down to 14 men, following the sending off of captain Kieran Maguire in the first half.

But McCarten struck for an opportunist goal and Laois defender Seán O’Flynn picked up a second yellow.

Laois led 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time, with the visitors missing a penalty when John Heslin’s effort was saved by Danny Bolger.

Westmeath had the wind in the second half and though Evan O’Carroll and Mark Barry pushed Laois three clear, Westmeath were able to eat into the lead.

McCarten goaled after Westmeath turned over a short kick-out and with Heslin and Luke Loughlin pointing, they were able to eke out a three-point win.

LAOIS: D Bolger; T Collins, M Timmons, S Greene; S O’Flynn, P O’Sullivan, C Heffernan; J Finn (0-1, free), D O’Reilly; M Barry (0-5, four frees), P Kingston, K Swayne; D Kingston (0-1), E O’Carroll (0-4, one free), E Lowry (0-2, one mark).

Subs: K Lillis for Finn (48 mins), J O’Loughlin for Swayne (54), R Munnelly for D Kingston (63), A Farrell for Heffernan (66).

WESTMEATH: J Daly; J Smith, K Maguire, J Gonoud; J Dolan, R Wallace, N Harte; S McCarten (1-1), S Duncan; J Lynam (0-1), R O’Toole (0-1), D Lynch; G Egan, J Heslin (0-5, four frees), L Loughlin (0-4, one 45).

Subs: R Forde (0-1) for Egan (48 mins), L Dolan for Duncan (66), A McCormack for Harte (73)

Referee: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary).