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Exiles stuck in neutral
By Tony Tighe
 London
1-9
Carlow 3-10
Three first-half goals sent Carlow on their way to a comfortable victory
over London on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Kelly, Mark Nolan and Ray Walker all netted in the opening half-hour
to leave London still searching for their first League win of 2008.
Carlow manager Paul Bealin had demanded a response from his players after
their drubbing by Offaly and he will have been pleased.
London were comfortable winners when the sides met in the League last
year but their late start to preparations was evident with the visitors’
fitness levels well ahead of their opponents. Much work is required before
their next fixture away to Tipperary.
Played in a sunny Ruislip, Carlow took the lead after only two minutes
when corner-forward Eric McCormack capitalised on slack marking to fire
over his first point of the day.
Mark McNulty grabbed the Exiles’ first point from a free but within
five minutes the game was already slipping away from them. Kelly capitalised
on confusion in the home defence to slam the ball past Evan Byrne for
their first goal of the day.
They didn’t have long to wait for their second either. Corner-back
Mark Nolan — deployed as a third midfielder — embarked on
a solo run from his own half and after a couple of neat one-twos lashed
the ball into the roof of the net.
Noel Dunning’s side seemed bereft of ideas, their rare ventures
into opponent’s territory resulting in misjudged passes and erratic
shooting. McNulty grabbed his second point of the day with a well-struck
free from an acute angle but Walker’s goal five minutes before the
break left the hosts trailing 3-5 to 0-3 at the interval.
Carlow then blooded a few youngsters and they extended their lead through
substitute Paul Broderick before London hit a purple patch. Mark Mulholland
curled over a neat effort, before a couple of Eamonn Reilly frees raised
the host’s hopes.
Those hopes were raised even further midway through the half thanks to
Carlow goalkeeper John Brennan who gifted Chris Donnellan (the star of
London risen again after a retirement that lasted a grand total of a week)
London’s only goal.
The goalkeeper must have been watching some South American goalkeeping
videos on the flight over to London as time and time again he left his
goalmouth to head off on mazy solo runs. One sensed he was playing with
fire and that proved to be the case when Paul Hehir dispossessed him and
fed Donnellan who had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty
net.
An excellent long-range point from Fergus McMahon left two goals between
the sides but a late Kelly free settled Carlow’s nerves as they
stumbled towards their second League win of the season.
London: E Bryne; N Spain, C Beirne, E O’Cuiv; P Morgan, B Comer,
D Moriarty (0-1); C Donnellan (1-1, 1f), F McMahon (0-1); E Reilly (0-2,
2f), P Hehir, M McNulty (0-2, 2f); M Mulholland (0-2), J Callery, P Fagan.
Subs: A Dillane for M McNulty (45mins)
Carlow: J Brennan; J Ryan, J Heyden, M Nolan (1-1); P Cashin, E Doyle,
R Sinnott (0-1); D Byrne, R Walker (1-0); P Bambrick, J Murphy, JJ Smith;
E McCormack (0-5, 1f, 1’45), K Doyle, B Kelly (1-2, 2f). Subs: P
Broderick (0-1) for E Doyle (half-time.); J O’Connor for D Byrne
(46mins); S Rea for B Kelly (51mins); J Kirwan for J Ryan (57mins); A
Curran for P Cashin (68mins).
Referee: Gary McCormack (Dublin). |
