Holders take no prisoners

UNDER-21 HURLING LEINSTER FIRST ROUND: Dublin 4-11 Carlow 0-11:THE DEFENDING champions could afford to hit a massive 21 wides yet go on to record a comfortable win at Dr Cullen Park last evening.

Carlow’s Daryl Roberts opened the scoring with a point from play on two minutes.

Dublin, playing with the aid of the wind, dominated outfield but struck seven wides before midfielder Barry Mulligan levelled matters on 13 minutes.

With the score level on 0-3 apiece on 19 minutes a long free from full forward Seán McGrath was dropped by a Carlow defender and Dublin county senior player Liam Rushe scrambled the first goal.

At half-time Dublin led 1-6 to 0-4, with an ugly 14 wides recorded.

Carlow’s hopes of victory were scotched by a 37th-minute goal from the visitors’ right full forward Kevin O’Loughlin (2-9 to 0-6).

Immediately a close-range free to Carlow was blocked on the line by the Dublin defence.

For the balance of play it was a stroll for the holders as they ran in five substitutes, with substitute Ciarán Brennan grabbing a brace of goals to wrap up victory.

Dublin, a class above their opponents, now move on to meet Offaly in the provincial semi-final and – the big wides tally apart – look a formidable side.

Rushe was outstanding while Martin Quilty, Danny Sutcliffe, O’Loughlin, Eamon Dillon and half-time substitute Mark Schutte were also impressive.

Carlow’s major fault line was in attack with only three points coming from play – midfielder Paul Coady notched 0-8 from placed balls.

By comparison, Dublin hit 4-9 of their total out of play.

DUBLIN: G McManus; B O'Carroll, J Doughan, C Gough; D Curran, M Quilty, S O'Connor; D Sutcliffe, B Mulligan (0-1); D Plunkett, L Rushe (1-1), R Mahon (0-1); K O'Loughlin (1-2), S McGrath (0-2, 2f), E Dillon (0-3). Subs: M Schutte (0-1) for Mulligan (h/t); D Kelly for O'Connor (41); C Brennan (2-0) for McGrath (44); F Clabby for O'Carroll (55); T Connolly for Dillon (58).

CARLOW: N Roberts; S Kelly, G Kelly, T Nolan; D English, J Corcoran, James Doyle; P Coady (0-8, all frees), P McElligot; John Doyle, E Byrne (0-1), D Murphy; D Roberts (0-1), C Lawlor, P Kehoe (0-1). Subs: G Bennett for McElligot (h-t); A McDonald for John Doyle (37); John Hughes for Kelly (55).

Referee: S Whelan (Wexford).

Next Up . . .

In the provincial semi-finals – both scheduled for June 22nd – Dublin will face Offaly, while Wexford will take on Laois. Times and venues to be announced.