IT Tralee's double dream dashed by Carlow IT in Ryan Cup semi-final
RYAN CUP SEMI-FINAL
Wednesday March 10 2010
IT CARLOW 2-11 IT TRALEE 1-10: IT Tralee's hopes of an Ulster Bank Higher Education GAA Hurling-football Championship double ended in disappointment at NUIG's Sportsground in Dangan, Galway as the ITT hurlers crashed out at the semi-final stage to eventual winners IT Carlow.
In ideal conditions IT Tralee were always left playing catch-up against a Carlow side that included All-Star goalkeeper PJ Ryan in their ranks.
IT Carlow burst out of the blocks to take a 1-1 to 0-0 lead after six minutes, with Laois man TJ Lalor netting their goal.
Lalor's powerful strike resulted in an injury to one of the umpires, and the delay of the game by almost eight minutes as the umpire received treatment.
Carlow failed to ease up, with defender Shane Kavanagh pushing his side five points clear on the resumption.
Limerick's James Riordain opened IT Tralee's account in the 16th minute, with his county colleague Nickie Quaid also getting on the scoresheet. But the eventual winners were resilient and failed to ease up with their second goal arriving in the 25th minute as a powerful Niall Kilcoyne strike pushed them 2-5 to 0-2 clear.
IT Tralee battled bravely but points from Denis Crowley and Michael Kelly were cancelled out in the closing stages of the half. Kavanagh and PJ Ryan were on target for Carlow as they claimed a 2-7 to 0-4 interval lead.
IT Tralee's best spell came in the opening five minutes of the second half, as they tagged on four unanswered points with Eoin Ryan, Riordain, Crowley and defender Mark Deegan on target to cut the deficit to five points.
IT Tralee battled bravely through a keenly contested second half, with captain Ryan having a 43rd minute penalty stopped by PJ Ryan, and while Quaid managed to penetrate the IT Carlow goalmouth lateon it was mere consolation as IT Tralee exited at the
penultimate stage.
- Coilin Duffy
