Carlow 3-22 Westmeath 4-16:WESTMEATH'S Christy Ring Cup three-in-a-row hopes were denied at O'Connor Park, Tullamore, last night, as Carlow dug deep in extra-time to carve out the win.
The challengers scored four unanswered points in the second period of extra-time to secure victory, but should have been putting the cup on the mantelpiece in normal time having been 10 points ahead by the 45th minute before allowing their opponents back into the contest.
Late goals from John Shaw and a Brendan Murtagh penalty strike, five minutes into second-half injury-time necessitated extra-time, but Carlow weren't to be denied and scores from Shane Kavanagh (two), Séamus Murphy and Craig Doyle paved the way for a historic success.
A wind-assisted Westmeath side dominated possession in the opening minutes of this contest, and they led by 1-5 to 0-3 after 12 minutes, full forward Derek McNicholas having broken through for the goal.
Carlow regained the edge before the interval but with Murtagh's deadly accurate from frees, finishing with the final two points of the half, the sides were level at the interval at 1-10 apiece.
Despite a strong finish to the opening half, Westmeath failed to score for 13 minutes after the restart as Carlow dominated in all quarters.
Colin Hughes added further points to his tally while Foley and Doyle added two superb goals inside a minute, within six minutes of the restart.
But Westmeath fought back valiantly in normal time as goals from Shaw and Murtagh earned them extra-time.
Carlow regained their scoring touch in extra-time, however, as they pulled away for victory and Coady at last got to accept the cup from Nickey Brennan after the game.
CARLOW: D Miley; A Gaule (0-1), D Shaw, J Rodgers; E Coady, S Kavanagh (0-4, 3 frees), R Coady (0-1); D Roberts (0-1, a sideline), A Brennan; R Dunbar (0-3), C Hughes (0-7, 5 frees), M Brennan (0-2); J Coady, R Foley (1-1), C Doyle (2-1). Subs: J Hickey for A Brennan; K English for Dunbar (both 61 minutes); D Murphy for Foley (62 minutes); B Lawler for J Coady (70+1 minutes); S Murphy (0-1) for Roberts (70+3 minutes); J Doran for R Coady (77 minutes); R Foley for Hughes (82 minutes); R Dunbar for S Murphy (84 minutes)
WESTMEATH: M Briody; G Gavin, P Greville (0-1), A Price; B Connaughton, D McCormack, P Dowdall; L Smyth (0-1), P Clarke; A Mitchell, B Murtagh (2-10, 7 frees, 2-0pen), E Price (0-3); R Jackson, D McNicholas (1-1), J Shaw (1-0). Subs: B Smyth for Jackson (24 mins); C Jordan for Greville (42 mins); N Gavin for G Gavin (50 mins); P Gilsenan for B Smyth (57 mins); P Greville for Mitchell (70+1 mins); C Flanagan for Smyth (85 mins).
Referee: Noel Cosgrove (Tipperary).
London survive
LONDON DEFEATED Roscommon 3-16 to 3-12 in a relegation play-off at Portlaoise on Saturday.
Goals from Kevin McMullen and Niall O'Grady helped London lead 2-9 to 2-6 at the interval, Roscommon's goals coming from Shane Sweeney and David Loughnane.
Brian McCormack scored 1-3 for London in the second half and, though Tom Reddington replied with a goal for Roscommon, the exiles held on for victory.
SCORERS - LONDON: K McMullen 1-7, B McCormack 1-3, N O'Grady 1-2, S Quinn, M Mythen, M O'Sullivan, C McDonnell 0-1 each.
ROSCOMMON: S Sweeney 1-6, T Reddington 1-1, D Loughnane 1-0, G Waldron, M Keaveney, M Connaughton, M Kelly, B Kelly 0-1 each.
After extra-time
