A Gerard Walsh goal from a free with the last puck of the game earned Antrim a draw in this National Hurling League Division 1B game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday. Carlow will be kicking as Ted Joyce’s point in three minutes of injury-time put them into a match-winning possession.
It looked all over but the home side lost the ball just inside their own half and then conceded a 35-metre free.
The delivery by Walsh was perfect and getting spin on his shot the ball flew low and hard past a wall of players and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
It was probably as much as they deserved as the visitors had missed a penalty while Antrim’s Conor Johnston saw his shot hit the bottom right hand upright and the home defence cleared the danger.
Carlow led 1-11 to 0-8 at the interval with Chris Nolan scoring the goal when raiding down the left. James Doyle also hit three points from play. In reply, Eoghan Campbell scored two points from play for Antrim and James McNaughton also landed three points to keep the visitors in touch against an in-form home side.
Even though Nolan opened the second-half scoring for Carlow, Antrim looked the more likely.
Johnston picked off two points in quick succession and the comeback was on.
The penalty came with just 10 minutes remaining when Paul Doyle fouled McNaughton and for his sins picked up a black card. Trailing for three points, the full-forward took the penalty himself but his shot was easily saved by Brian Tracey.
Even though they were playing with 14 men Carlow hit back with a Conor Kehoe point. McNaughton and Eoin McFerran raised white flags to set up the finale.
Carlow were in the ascendancy but a few wrong decisions brought the opposition on to them and Walsh was the Antrim saviour.
Scorers, Carlow: C Nolan 1-4 (0-1 sl), M Kavanagh 0-7 (5fs 65), F Fitzpatrick, C Whelan 0-2 each, James Doyle 0-3, J Nolan, T Joyce, C Kehoe 0-1 each
Antrim: J McNaughton 0-8 (6fs), C Johnston 1-2, G Walsh 1-0 (free), E Campbell 0-2, R McCambridge, E McFerran, C Bohill, N Elliott, C McKeown, K Molloy 0-1 each.
CARLOW: B Tracey, P O’Shea, D Wall, P Doyle, F Fitzpatrick, K McDonald, J McCullagh, E Kealy, C Whelan, J Nolan, M Kavanagh, John Doyle, C Kehoe, C Nolan, James Doyle.
Subs: P Boland for J Nolan (53), T Joyce for John Doyle (59), D Murphy for Kehoe (63).
ANTRIM: R Elliott, E McFerran, P Burke, S Rooney, J Maskey, E Campbell, C Bohill, N O’Connor, G Walsh, R McCambridge, K Molloy, N Elliott, E O’Neill, J McNaughton, C Johnston.
Subs: C McKeown for O’Neill (31), J McLaughlin for McCambridge (65).
Referee: C Mooney (Dublin).