NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION TWO SEMI-FINAL:CARLOW CRUISED to the final and could afford to strike 15 wides on their way to a 1-16 to 3-4 victory over a disappointing Kerry in Limerick yesterday.
In front by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval, Carlow were given a jolt eight minutes into the second half when John Egan had a Kerry goal to leave only two points between them. But that served as a wake-up call for Carlow who upped the pace with Brendan Lawler, and Mark Brennan putting over points.
The issue was put beyond doubt six minutes from the end when Ruairí Dunbar finished off a move involving four players.
Late goals by John M Dooley and Egan again only served to put a respectable look on the scoreboard for Kerry.
Carlow will play Westmeath in the divisional final as they beat Down by 2-24 to 2-15 at Breffni Park yesterday.
Westmeath held a 1-12 to 1-7 lead at half-time with their goals coming through Derek McNicholas and Niall Kilcoyne.
SCORERS
Carlow:B Lawler 0-6 (two frees, two 65s); R Dunbar 1-2 (0-1 free); M Brennan 0-3; R Foley 0-2; S Kavanagh (65), D Roberts, A Brennan 0-1 each. Kerry: J Egan 2-2, JM Dooley 1-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 65).
Westmeath:B Murtagh 0-7; D McNicholas 1-4; E Loughlin 0-5; N Kilcoyne 1-1; J Shaw 0-3; P Dowdall 0-2, L Smith, C Woods 0-1 each. Down: G Johnston 1-8; E Trainor 1-1; B McGourty, M Ennis 0-2 each; A Savage, C Courtney 0-1 each.
