Dublin 2-29 Carlow 3-17
Dublin kept their slim hopes of Allianz Hurling League promotion alive with a comfortable 2-29 to 3-17 victory over Carlow at Parnell Park.
They now need Waterford to take just one point from their remaining two games, and to win their own game against Laois in two weeks. It's very unlikely that the Déise will allow promotion to slip away, but for the Dubs it's a confidence booster as they build towards next month's Leinster Championship opener against Offaly.
After a slow start, goals from David Purcell and Brian Hayes helped to turn things around and send the Dubs in 11 clear at the break. Carlow came out fighting, and narrowed the gap to eight before a Seán Brennan penalty save stalled their momentum.
From there, Dublin were able to keep the Barrowsiders at arm's length to pick up their third win of the campaign.
There was one late change made by manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin as Conor McHugh replaced Paddy Smyth in the starting XV and his side made a solid start as early points from Ronan Hayes, Donal Burke (f) and Conor Burke had them ahead on three occasions inside five minutes.
Carlow hit back on each occasion and, when the hosts got a short puck out wrong at the back, Chris Nolan ghosted in before burying the ball to the net.
The next few minutes were scrappy but Kevin Burke got the next score for Dublin and, when Burke landed a monster from his own half, the gap was down to the minimum by the 12th minute, before they had the goal wiped out when Hayes powered over the next point from midfield.
Scores from David Purcell, Burke (f), Daire Gray - who hit back to back monsters from out left - and Brian Hayes had the Dubs two clear with 16 minutes on the block, and they really began to go through the gears for the rest of the half.
That daylight was created by a pair of goals. The first came from Purcell, who received the ball out left and ran at the Carlow defence, before lashing it home off his left.
The second arrived on 25 minutes and it wasn't dissimilar to the first, although Hayes started his run from out right. Like Purcell, he glided past a couple of defenders before smashing the ball to the net.
Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing, Fergal Whitely and Conor Donohoe all added their names to the scoresheet and, although Carlow managed a second goal through Paddy Boland, the gap was still 11 at the break - 2-19 to 2-8.
Carlow were on top in the early stages of the second half, outscoring the Metropolitans by 6 to 0-3 in the quarter of an hour after the restart. There was a critical moment then as the visitors were awarded a penalty after Boland was fouled by Kevin Burke. But Seán Brennan got down low to push Chris Nolan's effort away, and keep the gap at eight with 20 minutes to play.
That seemed to take the string out of Carlow as Dublin began to match them once more, with Chris Crummey getting amongst the scorers, while Conor Burke's fine evening continued as he brought his total to five from play.
Marty Kavanagh's goal in the last minute of normal time was mere consolation for Carlow and Dublin will finish their 1B campaign in two weeks against Laois.
Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, David Lucey (Paddy Smyth 52), Conor McHugh, Kevin Burke, Chris Crummey (Paul O'Dea 66), Daire Gray, Conor Burke, Conor Donohoe, Fergal Whitely, Donal Burke, Brian Hayes, David Purcell (Sean Currie 41), Ronan Hayes (Danny Sutcliffe 52), Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing (Andrew Jamieson-Murphy 52).
Dublin scorers: D Burke 0-10 (7f), B Hayes 1-02, C Burke 0-5, Purcell 1-01, C Donohoe 0-03, Gray 0-02, R Hayes 0-02, K Burke 0-01, Ó Dúlaing 0-01, F Whitely 0-01, Crummey 0-01
Earlier, the Dublin camogie team were plunged into a battle to avoid relegation. They were beaten by Waterford at Parnell Park by 3-16 to 12 points, with Niamh Rockett, Lorraine Bray and Mairead O'Brien gettings the goals.
It means the Girls in Blue have one point from their three games so far, having drawn with Tipperary and lost to All-Ireland champions Cork before today.
