Carlow 1-16 Kilkenny 0-3:ALL CREDIT to Kilkenny, but their cause was not helped when several first-choice players failed to show for last night's Leinster Under-21 Football Championship quarter-final at Portlaoise.
Carlow’s Brendan Murphy ran the show from midfield, kicking some excellent points in the opening half and got great assistance from his namesake Denis, who contributed four points. At the interval Carlow led 0-10 to 0-2, and despite Kilkenny scoring the last two points they never looked like causing an upset. Kilkenny played well in the third quarter but failed to add to their tally.
Dennis Murphy finished a great move for the goal 10 minutes from the end, but Kilkenny goalkeeper Pauric Whelan denied them at least three more.
Carlow now welcome Dublin to Dr Cullen Park on St Patrick’s Day for the semi-final.
CARLOW: P Hughes; BJ Molloy, S Redmond, J O’Donoghue; A Callinan, P McElligott, A Corcoran; B Murphy (0-5), M Clowry (0-3); D Bambrick (0-2), D Foley (0-1), M Ware (0-1); D Murphy (1-4), E Byrne, C Walsh. Subs: J Lowry for C Walsh, C Murphy for M Ware, C Coughlan for D Bambrick, D Kinsella for P McElligott, G Nolan for J O’Donoghue.
KILKENNY: P Whelan; G Morrissey, D Walton, K Cushen; R McNamara, S Kenny, C Foran; D Boyle, P Naughton (0-1); G Purcell, K Bergin (0-1), P Galvin; J Power, A Stapleton, C Daly. Subs: J Culleton (0-1) for J Power.
Referee: F Barry (Kildare).
