DIT forwards pile on the pressure

Sigerson Cup/ DIT 4-9; Carlow IT 0-7: Mick O'Dwyer is clearly planning ahead. The O'Byrne Cup taken care of following victory over Westmeath last Sunday, the Laois manager was at the Ballymun Kickhams grounds yesterday as DIT took on Carlow IT in the Sigerson Cup.

And in Laois panellist Colm Kelly, O'Dwyer will have come away pleased. The full forward, who was part of the All-Ireland minor winning team of 2003, showed plenty of character yesterday. After giving away two quick goals, Carlow IT needed a leader and Kelly fitted the mould with four points on the trot. It was enough to register with the DIT line: having seen enough of Kelly's exploits they duly replaced their full back shortly before the end of the first half.

It worked and Kelly was held scoreless thereafter by Trevor Bannon - in fact, a missed penalty after the break was not the ideal way to finish the day for Kelly.

And perhaps ironically the man who came up smelling of roses was DIT midfielder Mark Brennan. Brennan, who has just broken into the Carlow intercounty team, has had his problems with a back injury recently which has curtailed his training.

But he was a calming influence for DIT, particularly in the second half when he fielded some good ball under his own posts.

DIT had posted four points without reply before Carlow IT scored through Eoin Gorman on 17 minutes. But subjected to some intense pressure from DIT, Carlow capitulated in dramatic style with Ciarán Calvey and Joe Melia finding the back of the net.

Kelly took his cue from there, kicking two delightful points from play and two points from frees. And a further point from Kieran Nolan cut the arrears even further as Carlow IT trailed by 2-4 to 0-6 at the break.

Points from Joe Donnelly and Michael Lyng extended the DIT lead before Carlow IT midfielder Pauric Bracken went close with an effort that went across the face of the goal. Carlow were then awarded a penalty after David Hoare had been penalised for a foot block as Micheal Fanning attempted to find the net from Kelly's short offload.

Hoare redeemed himself when saving from Kelly's spot kick. It proved a let-off for DIT and they were able to finish with Donnelly and Lyng (penalty) both finding the back of the net.

DIT: D Hoare; C Prenderville, D O'Halloran, A Dennis; B Kelly, P Begley, D Burke (0-2); T Walsh, M Brennan; J Melia (1-1), J Donnelly (1-2), C Calvey (1-1); J Carlton (0-1), M Lyng 1-1 (goal from penalty), D Munnelly (0-1). Subs: T Bannon for O'Halloran, M Hannon for B Kelly both (31 mins), A McCann for Carlton (55 mins), O'Halloran for Bannon (blood, 55 mins), K McBriarty for Dennis (59 mins), J Donnegan for Calvey (63 mins).

CARLOW IT: R Morrisey; K Nolan (0-1), M Timmons, A Doyle; I Dempsey, T Dowling, D Gordon; J Dalton, P Bracken; P O' Leary, T Fitzpatrick (0-1), M Fanning, E Gorman (0-1), C Kelly (0-4, two frees), S O'Meara. Subs: D Beale for O'Meara (63 mins).

Referee: P Finnegan (St Patrick's, Louth).