Battling Kerry snatch share of the points from Carlow

A late, late point with almost the last puck of the game allowed Kerry to take a dramatic share of the Joe McDonagh Cup points in Tralee this afternoon.

Carlow opened the scoring with points from Marty Kavanagh and Chris Nolan with Kerry hitting back with two from Shane Conway. While the visitors slipped back into the lead with a James Doyle point, they failed to take goal chances as the Kerry defence put in some last-ditch blocks and tackles to deny Kavanagh, Conor Kehoe and Nolan.

With Kerry hunting in packs and dropping back Brandon Barrett and Michael Leane onto their own half-back line, their rivals depended on Kavanagh to convert a succession of frees. Yet Leane produced an inspirational point for the Kingdom when he drove out from inside his own half and fired the ball over the Carlow black spot.

Kerry enjoyed a huge let off when Paddy Boland, on two occasions, and Nolan had shots saved from point blank range when they looked certain to find the net. Another break down the right by Fiachra Fitzpatrick almost produced a goal but again Nolan saw his shot blocked by a Kerry defence who had got back in numbers.

The Carlow pressure still yielded results and with Kavanagh accounting for 0-09 in the opening half the Barrowsiders led 0-11 to 0-07 at the interval.

After an even opening to the second half Kerry seemed to go up a gear. Half time substitute Padraig Boyle - with two points - and another from Daniel Collins who raised another white flag for Kerry had them back in the game.

In reply, Jon Nolan, Kavanagh and Doyle all pointed for Carlow. When Shane Conway landed two points from play, there was only one in it. Boyle then levelled to set up a grandstand finish.

Carlow hit back and took a three-point lead with two more