That’s one hell of a full forward line.
DIT knocked IT Carlow out of the unforgiving Sigerson Cup on Wednesday afternoon. Unforgiving because it’s one slip and you’re out.
The Dublin institute booked their place in next week’s quarter finals while the Carlow outfit’s 2018 campaign was over after just 60 minutes of football.
Playing in their own back garden in Grangegorman, Billy O’Loughlin’s men hit the ground running with Mayo’s livewire corner forward Conor Loftus notching an early goal that would prove crucial in the outcome of this game.
The Crossmolina man was the first sub on the Mayo senior team last year, a super-sub at that. He offers lightening pace and a keen eye for a goal. He’s constantly probing, and is the type of attacker that every defender dreads.
He’ll be hoping to kick on from his form last year, by securing a starting berth under Stephen Rochford in this League campaign, and in their summer championship games.
He’s going the right way about it.
Alongisde the Mayo man was former Dublin under-21 Glenn O’Reilly. The Na Fianna club man also represented his county in this year’s O’Byrne Cup, lining out at corner forward in their clash with Offaly earlier this month.
Westmeath and St. Loman’s talent Shane Dempsey completed the home side’s potent inside line.
In fairness, they’re strong all over the field. Kerry senior Ronan Shanahan slots in at corner back. Tipperary’s dinger of a defender Bill Maher is a threatening wing back, while Dublin’s Brian Howard was named on the bench.
Team from @gavcawley (Twitter)
That gave them confidence in front of the home crowd, and they pushed on to take a six point, 1-5 to 0-2 point lead into the interval.
Carlow weren’t taking it lying down, however, and they rallied in the second half, with goalkeeper Killian Roche kicking four frees to bring them right back into it.
Sigerson Cup Latest DIT 1-6 IT Carlow 0-7 Killian Roche Carlow goalkeeper with four second half points @HigherEdGAA #SigersonCup #GAA
— Gavin Cawley (@gavcawley) January 31, 2018
02mins 2nd half
IT CARLOW: 0-7(7)
DIT: 1-5(8)— SETU Carlow GAA (@SETUCarlowGAA_) January 31, 2018
The pressure came on. DIT revelled in it, and kicked onto win by six in the end on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-8.
It’s the quarter finals for them next week.
