Charitable goal for Fergal Whitely helps Dublin to first win in Leinster Championship by beating Carlow

There was only a point between the teams when Whitely’s attempt for a point went straight to the net in the 59th minute, finally breaking Carlow’s resistance.

The goal will go down as a goalkeeping error, with Ciaran Abbey, one of four late Carlow team changes, letting it through his grasp, although the approaching pack of players may have unsighted him.

Carlow led at halftime after an excellent first half’s hurling, but Dublin improved after that, making some effective substitutions, with the introduction of Whitely and Darragh Power.

But they were grateful, too, to their goalkeeper Seán Brennan, who pulled off a wonderful diving save to deny Conor Kehoe a Carlow goal ten minutes before Whitely raised his green flag. At the time, Dublin let by just two points, 0-17 to 0-15, with the game still there for the taking.

Carlow’s return to the Leinster Championship as last year’s McDonagh Cup winners saw them acquit themselves well in Salthill last weekend, and they would have viewed Dublin as a potential scalp in Netwatch Cullen Park.

Last year, they lost to Dublin in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, having led at the interval and managing to keep the match competitive until the final ten minutes when outscored 1-6 to 0-1. They eventually lost by ten points.

They were the better here, sustaining the challenge for longer and closer to the finish. In the opening half, they were the better hurling team, well worth a 0-13, 0-9 lead at the interval, cheered lustily off the field.

Martin Kavanagh had six points by then and ended up with 13, giving a masterful exhibition of striking, effective in general play and flawless from dead balls. At the midway mark in the first half, they had a six-point lead, 0-9 to 0-3, picking off a series of excellent scores, one from Fiachra Fitzpatrick while racing down the right wing and a brilliant catch and score on the spin by Kehoe two of the highlights from the reel.

Dublin started Eoghan O’Donnell on the half-forward line, but their attack had little impact, with their shooting also letting them down, accumulating nine wides to Carlow’s four in the opening half and 16 overall.

O’Donnell was more effective after halftime. His physicality caused Carlow problems, earning frees, with Donal Burke finishing with nine points, one from play.

O’Donnell chipped in with two points of his own, while Conor Burke scored three fine points when Dublin needed them.

In the first half, O’Donnell had a goal attempt saved comfortably by Abbey, showing that, as a forward, he is still a work in progress.

Danny Sutcliffe worked exceptionally hard and Paddy Doyle made some useful contributions at the back, but Dublin lacked conviction and energy in the early parts of the game, with Carlow leading all through the half and leaving Dublin with a lot to resolve for the second half.

They managed it, lifting the intensity level and drawing level at 15 points a piece ten minutes into the second half before a free from Burke, won by O’Donnell, had them in front.

It wasn’t vintage, but a valuable two points, especially in light of Wexford’s earlier defeat in Antrim.

Dublin have Antrim at home in two weeks, while Carlow host the Leinster champions, Kilkenny.

Scorers - Dublin: D Burke 0-9 (8fs); F Whitely 1-1; C Burke 0-3; D Sutcliffe, D Gray, E O’Donnell 0-2 each; C O’Sullivan, S Currie, D Purcell, P Doyle, C Crummey 0-1 each. Carlow: M Kavanagh 0-13 (9fs, 2 65s); J Nolan 0-3; C Kehoe 0-2; C Nolan, P Boland, F Fitzpatrick, C Whelan 0-1 each.

Dublin: S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, P Doyle; C Crummey, C Donohue, D Gray; M Grogan, C Burke; C O’Sullivan, E O’Donnell, S Currie; D Sutcliffe, D Burke, R Hayes. Subs: D Power for Grogan (ht); F Whitely for Hayes (43); P Crummey for Currie (58); D Purcell for Sutcliffe (64), & J Madden for C Burke (64).

Carlow: C Abbey; N Bolger, D Wall, P Doyle; J Kavanagh, K McDonald, T Lawlor; F Fitzpatrick, J McCullagh; C Kehoe, M Kavanagh, J Nolan; C Whelan, C Nolan, P Boland. Subs: JM Nolan for Whelan (48); R Coady for J Kavanagh (60); S Treacy for C Nolan (64), F O’Toole for Fitzpatrick (66).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).