Promotion shapes up for Carlow rugby.
Carlow Rugby Club’s prospect of promotion in the Leinster League took a giant step forward at the weekend when Dublin Club Wanderers beat Munster team Kanturk in the Round Robin for the All Ireland League. All through the game, held in Kanturk, there was little between the sides. The final score was Wanderers 30, Kanturk 29. In the last kick of the game Kanturk missed a conversion that would have gained them victory.
The final piece of the jigsaw is for Wanderers to beat the Connacht team and given the results so far, they are odds on to achieve this. Once Wanderers move up, Carlow will follow albeit two divisions lower.
In Section 1B of the Leinster League Carlow would be in the company of four other teams from the South East; Tullow, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Gorey plus Newbridge, Longford and Malahide. This level of local rivalry should ensure good interest in next season’s league said Carlow President Andrew Dooley.
Meanwhile the news of other Carlow teams from the weekend makes for sorrier reading, with both the Second and Third XV’s bowing of the Cup.
Carlow seconds lose to Ashbourne.
Carlow Rugby Club’s 2nd XV travelled to Ashbourne Co Meath with a degree of confidence but came away losing by 25 pts to 15. Carlow started full of promise but in an early attack, an Asbourne winger collected a Carlow knock-on and streaked down the line to score in the corner. On 24 minutes Ashbourne got another soft try in the opposite corner to go 10 – nil ahead.
With the aid of a strong breeze starting 13 – nil down in the second half didn’t look insurmountable. But 3 minutes into the half Ashbourne scored a mauled try which started 25 metres out to go to 18 – nil.
Carlow did fight back. A try by John Michael Nolan plus a conversion and penalty by Ritchie Whyte brought the score to 18 – 10. Next score was vital and it went to Ashbourne to make it Ashbourne 25 Carlow 10. A late try by Ritchie Whyte closed the gap to 25 – 15 but time had run out for the Barrowsiders.
Carlow 2nd XV
Eoin Bailey, Tom Bolger, Ritchie Whyte, J M Nolan, Jack Phelan, John Whyte Capt. Keith Sothern, Ed Keating, Joe Gorman, Neil Slater, Thomas Whitney, Mark Furey, Niall Bermingham, John Farrell, Ed Barron.
Subs used
Hugh Kiernan, Alan Benson, Conor Murphy.
3rds v Kilkenny.
Carlow 3rds bowed out of the Cup to Kilkenny at the weekend on an 8 pts to 13 scoreline.
The match, played under lights at Oakpark on Friday night, was full of endeavour and solo running.
Carlow struck first with a Barry Purcell penalty and still held this 3 – 0 advantage at half time.
Early in the second half Kilkenny equalised with a long distance drop kick. Next came a converted try from a block down. A penalty was added and suddenly Carlow trailed 13 – 3. The home struck back for a try by Kevin Hanley. They pressed hard for another but Kilkenny just about held them out.
Team
Matt Murray, Gordon Rowe, Keith O Brien, Peter Cassidy, Adam Carey, Barry Purcell, Kevin Hanley, Keith Corrigan, Conal Slater, Clive Gee, Owen Kingston, , Anthony Mannion, Mark Landen, John Julian, Colm Harpur.
Subs used; Barry Murphy, Toby Couchman, Paul Cullen
