McGrath seals it

Sigerson Cup / Waterford IT 2-10 Carlow IT 0-11: Two Owen McGrath goals decided the issue at the Waterford Crystal grounds yesterday.

The first goal came after just 30 seconds when McGrath made no mistake from close range.

Thereafter Carlow were playing catch-up and though they came within a point of the home side early in the second half, they never looked like getting the goal they so badly needed.

Two points separated the sides with a minute of play remaining and, with the Waterford defence under pressure, Carlow looked capable of forcing a draw.

Then Waterford's Paul Deane sent McGrath away.

The corner forward raced through the Carlow defence to smash the ball to the net and seal victory.

WATERFORD IT: C Counihan; P O'Flaherty, P Deane, M Stanbrook; D O'Reilly, R Costigan, K Coffey; D Miller, R Sinnott; C Burns, A Mulhall (0-8), M Dillon; O McGrath (2-1), M Walsh (0-1), B Flanagan. Subs: A McLoughlin for Stanbrook, R Connor for Miller, A Darmody for Sinnott.

CARLOW IT: R Butler; P Cashin, N Cole, N Barrett; A Sheridan, T Dowling, A Lane; W Heffernan, T Fitzpatrick (0-1); C Bergin (0-4), P Bracken (0-1), M O'Flaherty; E McCormack (0-4), P Doyle, D Beale. Subs: C Kelly (0-1) for Beale, Beale for Bracken, J Sherlock for P Doyle.

Referee: Brian Tyrell (Tipperary).