A game of two halves at Fraher Field

Carlow’s revival in footballing circles under the guidance of Turlough O’Brien continued on Saturday evening last when they kept their unbeaten start to this year’s Allianz National Football League in tact when they came from five points down at the break to beat Waterford by two points at Fraher Field.

The defeat for Tom McGlinchey’s charges means its back to back defeats for Waterford in this years league after winning their first five competitive games of the year and any further slip ups could mean that the main aim for the year which is to get promoted from Division four in the league could be over for another year.

Waterford at the break lead 0-7 to 0-2 having played with a strong wind at their backs. At this stage the home side could well have been out of site as they registered ten wide’s in the opening half.

However, the wind could at time prove to be difficult to play with at your backs, as in the second half the visitors too struck a high amount of wide’s registering just one less than Waterford did when they had the wind at their backs.

With just under ten minutes of the game still to play in Fraher Field, despite playing against the strong wind, it looked good for Waterford as they held a three point lead, but in those closing minutes, the visitors struck five points while the home side failed to score in the last fourteen minutes of the game.

The home side opened this game brightly kicking the first three scores.

Shane Ahearne opened the scoring on three minutes and moments later Michael O’Halloran who has impressed since coming into the side this year doubled Waterford’s advantage and his Ballinacourty club mate Patrick Hurney put Waterford three up with eight minutes on the clock.

Carlow hit their first score of the game on the quarter of an hour mark, Ciaran Moran the player sending the umpire for a white flag.

The score however failed to ignite the visitors and Waterford hit the next four scores.

The first three of these scores all came from the boot of vice captain Shane Ahearne all from frees to give Waterford a 0-6 to 0-1 lead with thirty-one minutes played.

Mark Ferncombe edged Waterford six in front a minute before the break, but Darragh O’Brien moments before the half time whistle kicked Carlow’s second score of the game.

Leading by five points at the break is normally a good enough advantage to win many football games, but in the wintery conditions of Fraher Field, a five point advantage may not have been enough.

Carlow came out a different side for the second half.

With the wind at their backs, they hit the first three scores of the half.

Sean Gannon struck first on thirty-six minutes. A minute later the experienced Daniel Saint Ledger got his name on the score sheet, and eight minutes into the half Brian Murphy got his first of the game to leave just two between the sides.

Shane Ahearne put over a brace of frees on forty-four and fifty-six minutes to put Waterford four in front but these were to prove to be the sides last scores of the game.

Carlow however did finish strong registering the last six scores of the game.

Brian Murphy got the ball rolling with a point from a free on the hour mark. Substitute John Murphy followed up with another point two minutes later before Sean Gannon brought Carlow to within one of Waterford with seven minutes to play.

The visitors top scorer on the evening Brian Murphy levelled matters with five minutes to play after which the visitors continued to attack the Waterford goals and were rewarded for their efforts three minutes from time when Sean Gannon edged them in front for the first time and on the hour mark Brian Murphy got his fourth of the game to seal a two point victory.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Dean Crowley, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Thomas O’Gorman; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Maurice O’Gorman, Conor Phelan; Shane Ahearne, Tommy Prendergast; Michael Curry, Patrick Hurney, Michael O’Halloran; Mark Ferncombe, Gavin Nugent, Paul Whyte. Subs: Tony Grey for Conor Phelan (21); Liam Lawlor for Gavin Nugent (H-T); Liam Ó Lonáin for Tommy Prendergast (52); Lorcan Ó Corraoin for Michael Curry (57); Oran Keevers for Tadhg Ó hUallacháin (62); JJ Hutchinson for Ray Ó Ceallaigh (66).

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-6 (5fs); Patrick Hurney, Michael O’Halloran, Mark Ferncombe 0-1 each.

Carlow: Craig Kearney; Barry John Molloy, Shane Redmond, Kieran Nolan; Mark Fitzgerald, Daniel St Ledger, Benny Kavanagh; Sean Gannon, Darragh Foley; Ed Finnegan, Ciaran Moran, David Bambrick; Brian Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Darragh O’Brien. Subs: Hugh Gahan for David Bambrick (43); Derek Hayden for Ed Finnegan (53); Eoghan Ruth for Darragh Foley (55); John Murphy for Ciaran Moran (58); Eric McCormack for Darragh O’Brien (67).

Scorers: Brian Murphy 0-4 (3fs); Sean Gannon 0-3; Darragh O’Brien, Daniel St Ledger, Ciaran Moran, John Murphy.

Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary)