Carlow rescue dramatic draw against Wexford

Irish Examiner

18-05-2025

Tailteann Cup group 4: Carlow 2-16 (2-1-14) Wexford 1-19 (1-2-15)
Carlow salvaged a point in this Tailteann Cup second round game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday. Going into injury time, the home side trailed by four points.
John Phiri slotted a point to leave only three in it. One last attack saw Ross Dunphy fouled just inside the big square and from the resultant spot-kick, Carlow midfielder, Conor Doyle, beat Darragh Brooks.
The home side had started well with points from Dunphy, John Murphy and Kevin Murphy (free). Eoghan Nolan nailed a two-pointer for the visitors. Sean Nolan added a point to level. Carlow were unlucky to see Conor Crowley's rocket fly off the upright.
Kevin O'Grady ended the half with three points from play for Wexford while Sean Nolan also raised two white flags.
A 23rd minute raid by Mikey Bambrick almost yielded a Carlow goal but the woodwork intervened. He did the same in the second half. It looked as if the home side were out of luck.
Wexford led 0-9 to 0-8 at the break. Nolan extended that lead with a free. Carlow hit back and Niall Hickey landed a two-pointer from play. Sean Murphy and Ciaran Moran also pointed.
The visitors responded and were rewarded with two Nolan points. Martin O'Connor scored their goal when he found the bottom left-hand corner of the net on 45 minutes. Liam O'Connor, Liam Coleman and Jack Higgins points put Wexford six clear with six minutes left on the clock. It was looking grim for Carlow.
Their hopes rose a little when Dunphy got in behind the Wexford defence for a goal. Wexford came back but missed chances which might have killed off Carlow. They paid for this as the home side mounted those two last attacks and found a way to maintain their unbeaten record in the competition.
Scorers for Carlow: R Dunphy, C Doyle 1-1 (1-0 pen 45) each, K Murphy 0-3 (fs), N Hickey (2), M Bambrick, C Crowley 0-2 each, J Murphy, J Phiri, S Murphy, C Moran, J Clarke 0-1 each
Scorers for Wexford: S Nolan 0-5 (1f), M O'Connor 1-0, K O'Grady, N Hughes (1-2p) 0-3 each, P Hughes, E Nolan (2p) 0-2 each, L O'Connor, L Coleman, T Byrne, J Higgins 0-1 each
CARLOW: Johnny Furey; Paddy McDonnell, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; John Phiri, Niall Hickey, John Murphy; Kyle Nolan, Conor Doyle; Ross Dunphy, Darragh Foley, Mikey Bambrick; Conor Crowley, Kevin Murphy, Sean Murphy.
Subs: Ciaran Moran for M Furey (34), Jamie Clarke for Foley (46), Adam Burgess for Nolan (54), Paddy Regan for J Murphy (61), Liam Gavin for K Murphy (64).
WEXFORD: Darragh Brooks; Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O'Connor; Eoin Porter, Eoghan Nolan, Martin O'Connor; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Páiric Hughes, Shane Pettit, Mark Rossiter; Kevin O'Grady, Tom Byrne, Sean Nolan.
Subs: Ruairi Martin for Sheehan (14), Jack Higgins for Pettit (35), Robbie Brooks for Byrne (35), Conor Carty for O'Grady (58), Dylan Furlong for Rossiter (67).
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).