Carlow and Wicklow can’t be separated

Carlow 0-9 Wicklow 0-9

The Carlow footballers remain unbeaten in Division Four of the Allianz Football League - but only after a close-in Wicklow free from Dean Odlum to win the game drifted agonisingly wide.

The opening half was a forgettable affair with only six points recorded as the Garden County took an 0-4 to 0-2 lead. In truth the visitors, playing with the wind at their backs, should have been much further in front but for some poor finishing in a half which was 30 minutes old before Carlow midfielder Darragh Foley opened his team’s account.

Carlow were then awarded a 31th minute penalty when full forward John Murphy was fouled in the large square but Brian Murphy’s weak effort was easily saved by Wicklow netminder Robert Lambert.

The game picked up in the second half and three quick fire points from Brian Murphy and a brace from Foley edged Turlough O’Brien’s side ahead for the first time before DCU student Conor McGraynor levelled from a free.

The best goal chance of the game came on 47 minutes but Ed Finnegan’s thunderous drive crashed off the Wicklow crossbar and came back into play leaving the two teams tied.

It was then pretty much point for point until the end of the game with a superb Carlow point from Seán Gannon the highlight of the closing stages before Odlum fluffed his lines.

Carlow: C Kearney; B J Molloy, S Redmond, K Nolan; M Fitzgerald, D St Ledger, B Kavanagh; S Gannon (0-2), D Foley (0-3, 0-2 frees); E Finnegan, Brendan Murphy, D Bambrick; Brian Murphy (0-3, frees), J Murphy, D O'Brien. Subs: E Ruth (0-1) for Bambrick (47); C Moran for Finnegan (52); A Kelly for O'Brien (59); C Mullins for Foley (65).

Wicklow: R Lambert; P Higgins, P Cunningham, D Hayden; A Murphy, P McLoughlin (0-1), K Murphy; A McLoughlin (0-1), D Healy; N Gaffney, J McGrath (0-1), P McWalter; D Odlum (0-4, 0-3 frees), C McGraynor (0-2, 0-1 free), B McCrea. Subs: S Foley for McGrath (49); P Cronin for McCrea (60); M Kenny for McWalter (60).

Referee: F Barry (Kildare).