Waterford 5-16 Carlow 0-13 – Challenge Match At Carriganore

De La Salle pair Dean Twomey and Paudie Nevin both put forward a strong case to Michael Ryan and his management team as a largely experimental Waterford side shook off the challenge of Carlow at Carriganore on a bitterly cold Friday evening.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and reeled off the opening three points through Marty Kavanagh, Daryl Roberts and Craig Doyle. Waterford settled with two points before Thomas Ryan finished a dashing solo run by flicking the sliotar to the net on nine minutes. Carlow displayed some fine touches in the opening half however and with Marty Kavanagh accurate from placed balls they brought themselves level (1-4 to 0-7) after 20 minutes. Then Dean Twomey registered Waterford’s second major after Ryan picked him out with a clever cross field ball. Paudie Nevin also helped himself to three first half points as the home side led by 2-5 to 0-9 at the break.

After putting up a more than respectable showing in the first half, Carlow’s resistance faded after the interval as Waterford gradually began to pick off their scores with greater ease. Twomey bagged his second goal on 41 minutes and Paudie Nevin added his fourth point of the evening to extend the lead. Thomas Ryan and Brian O’Halloran fired over two points apiece as both players enjoyed good outings. While the forwards scored freely, Maurice O’Gorman, Stephen Daniels and Tony Browne spearheaded the defensive effort. On 56 minutes Eoin McGrath got a touch onto a delivery from Twomey for Waterford’s fourth goal before Gavin O’Brien’s long range free found its way to the net with the last puck of the match. Carlow midfielder James Kavanagh was sent off in the closing minutes for two yellow cards.

Scorers:- Waterford: D Twomey 2-1, G O’Brien 1-3, T Ryan, E McGrath 1-2 each, P Nevin 0-4, B O’Halloran 0-3, O Connors (1f) 0-1.
Carlow: M Kavanagh 0-6 (5f), J Kane 0-2, D Roberts, C Doyle, A Gaule, M Clowrey, R Dunbar 0-1 each.

Waterford: A Power, S Fives, C Ryan, T O’Gorman, S Daniels, T Browne, D Prendergast, S Lawlor, J Nagle, O Connors, D Twomey, P Nevin, T Ryan, B O’Halloran, J Barron.

Subs: M O’Gorman for T O’Gorman (inj), P Prendergast for Fives, G O’Brien for Connors, E McGrath for Barron, J Coady for Power.

Carlow: N Roberts, A Corcoran, E Nolan, D Shaw, J Corcoran, S Kavanagh, J Rogers, J Kavanagh, P Keogh, M Clowrey, J Kane, A Gaule, M Kavanagh, C Doyle, D Roberts.

Subs: K McCabe for Gaule, R Dunbar for D Roberts, J O’Hara for Shaw, J Doyle for Keogh.

Referee: Michael Wadding