THE SUPERSTITIOUS may blame the year but Carlow's 13th season in Senior Rugby has come to an end. Whilst the mathematicians may argue that it is still possible to survive the chances of Carlow obtaining 2 bonus point wins in the remaining games and by the same token Portadown failing to gain just one solitary point is an unlikely scenario given that the two sides meet in Portadown on the last day of the season.

Any thoughts that Barnhall were only togging out for the sake of it were quickly dismissed as their superior pack tore into Carlow and a mis -tackle on the Carlow 22 saw Barnhall No 4 Barry Dunne canter in for a converted try. Barnhall continued to hammer at Carlow particularly the big men hitting up in the centre leaving gaps for their backs to exploit.

In the 22nd minute Carlow eventually made it up field and a kick through by Whyte found touch in the Barnhall 22. The throw was crooked and from the resultant scrum Barnhall were adjudged to wheeled illegally and Whyte made no mistake from 35mts – 7-3.

Darragh O Neill restored the Barnhall 7 point lead but was guilty of missing an easy kick when James Nolan was yellow carded for pulling down a rolling maul just minutes later. The 22 drop off landed on the half way line and the Barnhall full back put in a cross field kick just 5 yards from the Carlow line leaving further pressure on the struggling pack. Barnhall managed to steal the lineout and surge forward but the effort was deemed held up. A huge Barnhall scrum saw the Carlow pack retreat but just as the Barnhall 8 McKeown seemed certain to score he knocked the ball on.

Sean Hennessy superbly picked up from the resulting retreating Carlow scrum but despite gaining yards Carlow failed to clear their own lines and Barnhall were finally awarded a Penalty try as the Carlow scrum disintegrated. Barnhall's tails were up as they lead 17 – 3 however,

Carlow had the last say in the half when a chip through by Rory Stynes was legally held on the ground and Whyte made no mistake leaving the half time score 17-6. David Cassidy came on from Liam O'Byrne and finally Carlow started to exert some pressure on Barnhall.

Good continuity between the Carlow backs and forwards forced Barnhall into another handling error on the ground but a penalty was reversed following the intervention of the touch judge. Carlow's Dave Barron and Barnhall's 7 Cormac Dunne were given a 10 minute break. Carlow now came on strong and following good work by James Nolan a break down the right hand side saw Whyte feed a speeding Ross Byrne who sold a lovely dummy before cantering in close to the posts.

Whyte goaled leaving just 4 points between the teams. Unfortunately for Carlow the score simply woke Barnhall up and once again a failure for Carlow to clear their lines having successfully won a line out on their 22 allowed Barnhall a foothold close to the Carlow line.

Barnhall clearly threw in crooked but the protesting Was Whitton was promptly yellow carded. Barnhall quickly forced a push over try which was converted and on the 65th minute sealed victory when right wing Cauldwell kicked over a defending Paddy Barcoe and a cruel bounce gave the speedy winger time to gather and race over from 50mts. The conversion was missed but Barnhall had the final say when a Carlow forward sliced a clearance kick and full back Gerome Bideau was on target with a drop goal.