Carlow Institute of Further Education overcame their Cork counterparts in the first outing of the 2008/09 League campaign played at Dr Cullen Park last week.
This was a cracking game with both sides intent on playing fast open football which led to some great scoretaking by both teams.
Carlow started brightly with points from Keith Jackson and Kevin Power and when Kilbride’s Dara Foley found the Cork net with a cracker the home supporters were in full voice.
However, Cork had other thoughts and with their first real attack they opened the Carlow defence and hammered home past Andrew O'Brien to state their intent.
Gerry Holmes and Keith Jackson were controlling midfield and sturdy full forward Paul Donnelly was causing concern inside as he added a point from play. Cork raids added four points to narrow the gap but Jackson, Foley and Paddy Deevey from a free brought the half time score, Carlow 1 - 6, Cork 1 - 4.
Scores from Paul Donnelly, Paddy Deevey (free ), Eddie Kelly and another Deevy free brought Carlow's scoreline to 1 - 11 but Cork were enjoying their free flowing game and countered with six excellent scores to bring their tally to 1 - 10, the minimum between the sides with nine minutes to play.
A neat point from overlapping half back Shane Walker, a well worked score from busy corner forward Sean Foley and a Kevin Power free ensured daylight between the sides. Again Cork opened the home defence and poached their second goal to leave just a point between the sides. Paddy Tobin, who had moved outfield, stole forward and showed great composure to slot a point to put two between the sides.
Cork had a chance to narrow the deficit or hit a winner but a lack of focus by their substitute ended in a free out and Carlow survived the encounter.
While Jim Conway will be happy with the victory he will surely have something to say on the sixteen wides hit by his charges over the hour and with stiff tests from Carlow College and Tipperary Institute to come a need for economy and accuracy is paramount.
Referee: Pat Kehoe.
Team: Andrew O'Brien (Naomh Eoin ), Patrick Kehoe (St Joseph's ), Paddy Tobin (St Patrick’s ), 0-1, Kevin Cushen (Graiguenamanagh ), Shane Walker (Coolkenno ), 0-1, Conor Boyle (Portlaoise ), David Leonard (Portlaoise ), Keith Jackson (Tinryland ), 0-2, Gerry Holmes (Eadestown ), Edward Kelly (St Joseph's ), 0-1, Dara Foley (Kilbride ) 1-2, Kevin Power (O'Hanrahans ) 0-2, Paddy Deevey (Old Leighlin ) 0-3f, Paul Donnelly (Railyard ) 0-2, Sean Foley (Kilbride ) 0-1.
Substitutes: Brendan Barnes (Tinahely ) for Leonard (injured ), DJ Regan (Naomh Eoin ) for Deevey, and Adam Haughney (O'Hanrahans ), Arron McMahon (St Laurences ), Brendan Kehoe (Fenagh ), Fiachra O'Neill, (St Patrick’s ), Ciaran Williamson, (Tinryland, Paddy Maye (Naomh Eoin, ) Fergal Kavanagh, (Clonmore ), John Owens, (Éire Og ).
