Carlow survive as Byrne ends the suffering

Carlow: 0-9 W Quinlan 0-3, frees; J Hickey 0-1; J Byrne 0-1; S Kavanagh 01; B Kelly 0-1; P Nolan 0-1; J Nevin 0-1

Wicklow: 0-8 T Gill 0-6, four frees; S Cush 0-1; J Behan 0-1

REFEREE: P Russell (Tipperary)

ATTENDANCE: 6,000 (est)

Carlow, the 250 to 1 long-shots for the provincial title, will probably go out even further in the betting after contributing their share to an abysmal parody of the code in a best-forgotten replay at Newbridge yesterday.

Jimmy Dunne, Wicklow's Leinster Council representative, summed it up. "It was the worst I ever saw, some may well be thankful that it didn't go to extra-time from a football point of view."

The shuddering possibility of a 15minute each way extension, for the neutral at least, was happily ruled out when Carlow's determined centre back Joe Byrne careered forward to box over the winning point three minutes into injury-time.

Both teams in turn sabotaged their own prospects by not taking some clearcut chances when they were presented. But it was that sort of indecisive encounter. Tipperary referee Paddy Russell was obliged to blow for a free every half-minute, the ball was frequently given away and elementary errors both in defence and attack were the norm.

The odd punch thrown and some dangerous tackles made John Prescott's midweek left jab look harmless stuff.

It came as no surprise when two players were sent to the line in separate second-half incidents. First for an early shower was Carlow's Brian Kelly, for a second bookable offence, 23 minutes into the second half. And, within a minute, Wicklow captain Ronan Coffey was red carded after Carlow corner back John Hickey came off second best in a challenge.

Hickey's most notable contribution, a point that ultimately proved priceless, could instead have been one of three firsthalf goals for Carlow that got away.

Carlow were on their way to scoring five points without reply when Hickey's attempt at chipping Tommy Murphy narrowly went over the bar. Wicklow, who failed remarkably to open their account until the 26th minute were proving to be better at contesting play than taking scores.

The great midfield work of Barry Sheehan and Darren Coffey supported vigorously by defenders Stevie Cush, Barry O'Donovan and Brendan O hAnnaidh lacked the necessary support up front.

Carlow's second golden-goal opportunity came after 27 minutes, but, after Johnny Nevin and team captain Mark Carpenter had linked up effectively to lay on the chance for Pat Nolan, up popped the advancing Tommy Murphy to somehow make the save.

Later, a Willie Quinlan shot was smothered in a crowded goalmouth and taken off the line by Gary Jameson.

Carlow goalkeeper Paudge McGrath had a far more comfortable afternoon thanks to toothless attempts by Wicklow raiders to get on target. On four occasions McGrath was able to fetch the ball from under his crossbar.

Wicklow trailed by 0-6 to 0-4 at halftime and were basically dependent on Tommy Gill's unusual back to the posts free-taking style. The Rathnew man hit six excellent points, four from frees.

Gill, however, contributed to Wicklow's 10 wides with one particularly crucial miss in the closing stages. During this period half back O hAnnaidh, Gill and Darren Coffey, in rapid succession, also squandered clearcut chances for points.

Moses Coffey's men eventually levelled the scores at 0-7 each with 65 minutes on the clock.

In a tense finish, Gill equalised Willie Quinlan's pointed-free and, just as extra-time beckoned, Joe Byrne took on the whole Wicklow defence and scored the winner.