These IT Carlow men just don’t know when they’re beaten.
Last year’s beaten finalists IT Carlow welcomed Limerick IT to their college grounds on a windy Fitzgibbon Wednesday evening.
DJ Carey’s side went into the contest as slight favourites, and they justified their favouritism with a courageous, spirited display as they outfought Davy Fitzgerald’s men with the game in the melting pot.
Cathal Dunbar and Richie Leahy starred for the home side, for whom Carlow native Martin Kavanagh took every chance that came his way from placed balls.
Image credit: Rebecca Treacy, Twitter.
The four in a row Fitzgibbon League champions are desperate to make it count in this year’s Fitzgibbon competition, and this is as good a chance as they’ll ever have to seal the deal.
It didn’t look they’d be heading for the semi-finals after the first 20 minutes of action in this one. The Limerick men were starving from the word go, and their intensity spurred them into a six point, 0-10 0-4 lead with 22 minutes on the clock.
Big, burly full forward Peter Duggan was on form, notching a couple of scores, while Willie Connors buzzed around the park and Diarmuid Byrnes exerted a powerful influence on the game.
Crucially, Carlow’s Sean Downey struck the Limerick college for a goal and this dragged them back into the game. From there they kicked on, and a six point deficit was soon whittled down to just by the half-time interval.
It was again the away side who started the brighter upon the resumption of play, and they eked out a two point lead early in the second half.
Kilkenny man Richie Leahy came into his own in a two minute spell for Carlow, raising two white flags and from there they never looked back.
Kavanagh pointed frees, Dunbar pointed sidelines and they went on to win by four, with 1-19 to 0-18 being the final score.
IT Carlow are starving for Fitzgibbon success this year, and it will take a good side to stop them.
On the other side of the draw, DCU knocked out three in a row seeking Mary I to book their place in the semi-finals.
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