Carlow Town return to the senior ranks
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CARLOW TOWN 2-09 MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS 0-07
THE TEAM that failed to show last week came all guns blazing for the replay and were easy winners on a freezing day in Dr.cullen Park which saw the close of the Carlow club championship calendar.
With Ruairi Dunbar taking frees for fun and Cian Clancy back to his old self Carlow Town were a far cry from the poor outfit they were seven days previously.
Credit to Rangers, they hate losing and to be fair this year they would be forgiven for forgetting what losing feels like, but despite being well beaten in this intermediate final they never downed tools.
Rangers trailed for the full 60 minutes and after the first they were a point down thanks to a Dunbar free. Jack Murphy hit back with a stylish effort before Cian Clancy took a classy point on the run, a move that has become his trademark. Denis Roche smacked over a close range free and after ten minutes the sides were level.
It would be the only time that was the case as before the quarter hour Karol English sent a shot goalward and before anyone knew what was happening the umpire was waving a green flag.
It was a huge blow to Rangers and for the second quarter of the game Carlow Town put the pedal to the metal and hit a further 1-5.
A Dunbar free was the only piece of action separating the two Town goals. Their second coming from the 'fox in the box' Seamus Minnock who was aware after Seamus O'brien had made a mess of a clearance in the MLR goal.
Dunbar would score three more before half time, two frees and one nice point from play while the man who didn't start the drawn game, Cian O'brien, walloped over a great point from almost 50m after taking a pass from Cian Clancy.
Deep into first half injury time Denis Roche hit a close range free and Patrick Murphy called time at 2-7 to 03
The second half was awful. Seventeen minutes went past without either side registering a score. Even Carlow Town seemed to have faded despite being unstoppable in the opening thirty. After four minutes they had an opportunity to extend their lead from a close range free but Dunbar decided to go for goal and his shot was well blocked by defenders on the line.
Some yellow cards were issued for handbags and some subs got a run, but they were the most interesting things in the third quarter. Denis Roche finally scored a 65 to pull a point back for MLR but Dunbar converted an easy free to cancel it out.
Shocking as it may seem there would only be two more scores in the second half one from Patrick Kealy in the 59th minute. To seal it then Dunbar stole the show with a super strike from half way from a free. Four minutes injury time would matter little in the end and game ended 2-9 to 0-7.
- At Dr. Cullen Park
