Carlow show composure

Carlow 0-15 Clare 1-11: Carlow footballers held out for their second successive Division Two B victory in succession with a one-point win over Clare at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

The sides were level with the game in the second minute of injury time when Carlow midfielder Thomas Walsh earned a free from 45 metres from the Clare goal. Defiance by the Clare men led to the ball being brought forward, making Brian Kelly's task of kicking the winning point an easy one. There was a family aspect to that winning score as Kelly was faced in the Clare goal by his cousin, Dermot O'Brien.

Carlow had led 0-9 to 0-4 after a listless opening half. But the game sprang to life when Clare's Michael O'Dwyer sidefooted the ball to the Carlow net. Carlow were in deeper trouble when full back Brian Farrell and midfielder Mark Brennan were yellow-carded within minutes of each other.

But Liam Hayes' side showed commendable composure as the full-forward line came to the rescue, again contributing a combined total of 0-12.

CARLOW: J Brennan; C McCarthy, B Farrell, L Murphy; P Kelly, J Hayden, D Nolan; M Brennan (0-1), T Walsh; B Carbery (0-1), C Pender, P Walsh; S Rea (0-6, four frees), M Carpenter (0-2), B Kelly (0-4, three frees). Subs: R Synnott (0-1) for Pender; S Murphy for Farrell (yellow card); D Byrne for M Brennan (yellow card);

CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, C Whelan, K Dilleen; A Clohessy, B Considine, G Tibridy; J Moody, G Quinlan (0-2); B Crowley, M O'Connell (0-1), Dave Russell (0-1); E Curtin (0-3, two frees), T Ryan, M O'Dwyer (1-2). Subs: Denis Russell (0-2, one free) for Ryan (inj): R Donnelly for Crowley; S Hickey for Curtin;

YELLOW CARDS: Carlow: M Brennan, B Farrell.

Referee: B Tyrell (Tipperary).