Late heartbreak for Kildare as Carlow come back to earn draw in National League thriller

Carlow 1-20

Allianz NHL Division 2A

A thrilling affair was played out in St Conleth's Park on Sunday afternoon that produced all the hallmarks of good hurling as Carlow and Kildare finished level after a game in which both sides combined physicality with exceptional technique and no little bravery. It's just a shame there weren't too many people there to see it.

While football will always be the predominant sport in Kildare, this should have attracted a much larger crowd than the couple of hundred that were sprinkled around the stand as the Lilywhites played their last home game in the league. A place in the Division 2A final was at stake, and though they fell just short of achieving that particular goal, they showed enough to suggest that they will be serious contenders for the Christy Ring Cup title this summer.

A shame too that the national media will largely focus on the fact that it was a Limerick man that scored 1-8 for Kildare and the Lilywhites last three scores of the game came from two Treaty men and a Limerick man, but the performance of Paul Divilly from centre-forward showcased the talent that Kildare can produce in hurling.

Nonetheless, it was a hard result to take as Martin Kavanagh's 75th minute score tied matters after Richie Ryan had put Kildare ahead just two minutes before that, meaning the home side's hopes of making a league final now hinge on Carlow losing to Armagh next time out and Kildare putting up a good score in a win over London.

The opening stages lacked nothing on the physical stakes as the likes of Mick Purcell, Paul Divilly and Mark Moloney all thundered into challenges, while Carlow were fronting up to every tackle too. That aspect of the game only added to the spectacle early on as both sides traded impressive scores in a very clinical sowing on front of goal.

Kildare had posted two scores within the opening 90 seconds as Paul Divilly angled over the opening point after finding space on the right wing, before David Reidy got his first of the day when he slotted over a close range free. Carlow responded well to the initial Kildare burst however, and three points in the space of just over a minute sent them into the lead for the first time.

Craig Wall opened their account before Sean Whelan sent over a monster score from play on his own '65, and Jack Kavanagh's score nudged them ahead. Divilly responded with an excellent effort from the right wing, but Carlow were being economical in their shooting and a well taken score from Eddie Byrne restored their lead.

David Reidy was his usual accurate self from placed balls however, and another score from the Limerick man tied things up, before the Lilywhites plundered their first goal of the afternoon. An excellent sideline cut from Jack Sheridan landed on the edge of the square, and when Mark Delaney batted the sliotar down towards Divilly the Confey man's pull was diverted in by Carlow defender Richard Coady.

The visitors weren't too shaken by the concession of the goal however, and scores from Paul Coady and David English kept them within reach of Kildare, but David Reidy's first point from play kept them two points to the good.

Naas man Jack Sheridan then sent over an exquisite sideline cut from out on the right wing about 25 metres from the end line, but that was cancelled out by John Michael Nolan who did exactly the same at the other end. A couple of Coady frees put Carlow back into a one point lead, but Kildare responded by netting their second goal in the 32nd minute.

A long free from Michael Reidy was brilliantly fielded on the edge of the square by Divilly, and, with the big Confey man's progress halted by a triple challenge from the Carlow defence, referee Colum Cunning raised his arms to signal a penalty. David Reidy stepped up to fire home despite James Carroll getting a partial block on his effort, and the half finished out with Jack Murphy and Divilly swapping scores at either end.

Kildare entered the dressing rooms with a 2-7 to 0-11 lead and the comfort of knowing that they would have the backing of the slight wind in the second half.

John Michael Nolan opened the second half scoring with a point after a well worked free set him up, and it took Kildare until the fifth minute before they could issue a response, but when they did it was a fabulous effort from the right touchline on front of the stand from Sheridan that got them off the mark. Reidy and English swapped frees soon after, while Divilly stroked over his fourth effort of the day from close range to restore Kildare's three-point advantage in the tenth minute of the second half.

Coady and Craig Wall added scores for the visitors, but an effort apiece from the Reidy brothers - Michael and David - kept Kildare ahead. Both sides were trading blow for blow, and they were swapping points in doubles until the final five minutes, and when Nolan and substitute Kevin McDonald raised white flags for Carlow it was no surprise that Kildare offered a response through scores from David Reidy and a huge effort from Divilly as he brought his tally to 1-5.

John Mulhall scored his first of the day with five minutes left to play, and, with a three-point lead, Kildare looked almost home and hosed. There were plenty of twists and turns in this tale however, and when Craig Wall angled a superb effort into the bottom corner of Paul Dermody's net a final frantic few minutes were inevitable. Kevin McDonald's pointed free put the away side into the lead for the first time in the second half as the game lapsed into injury time it was still all to play for.

Credit to Kildare however, as they stood up and really took the fight to Carlow. David Reidy held his nerve to land a free from around 75 metres out to level matters, before Richie Ryan's 73rd minute point looked to have won the game for the Lilywhites.

There was late heartbreak however as Kavanagh nailed a '65 to ensure Carlow all but guaranteed a place in the league final for themselves and consigned Kildare to another campaign in Division 2A.

Scorers for Kildare: D Reidy 1-8(5f), P Divilly 1-5, J Sheridan 0-2(1sl), R Ryan and J Mulhall 0-1 each.

Scorers for Carlow: C Wall 1-2, P Coady 0-5(3f), K McDonald(3f) and J Nolan 0-3 each, D English 0-2f, S Whelan, E Byrne, J Kavanagh and J Murphy 0-1 each.

Kildare

P Dermody; C Forde, J Doran, N O'Muineachain; S Gainey(C Bonus 30mins), M Moloney, R Bergin; M Reidy, D Reidy; J Sheridan, P Divilly, M Purcell(R Ryan 57mins); B Byrne, J Mulhall, M Delaney.

Carlow

J Carroll; A Corcoran, P Doyle, G Bennett; S Whelan, D English, R Coady(R Kelly 51mins); J Kavanagh(J Doyle 55mins), J Murphy; J Nolan, P Coady(K McDonald 51mins), E Byrne; C Nolan(S Murphy ht), C Wall, M Kavanagh.