Chris Nolan scored three goals as Carlow got their Joe McDonagh Cup challenge off to the perfect start with an excellent second half performance to beat Down 6-23 to 0-20 at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
Down came at the home side in the opening jousts with Pearse Óg McCrickard scoring two points and Chris Egan also bisected the posts. James Doyle nailed the home side's first point on six minutes. Three Marty Kavanagh frees on the trot eased Carlow into the contest in the opening quarter.
Nolan scored the first of his goals on 29 minutes when taking a pass from Doyle, he found the bottom right hand corner of the net. Minutes later, the Down defence were alert and did well to smother Nolan as he attempted to muscle his way through in an attempt to find the net.
The visitors were unlucky not to get through themselves when Tim Prenter must have thought he was going to find a three-pointer but Carlow keeper, Brian Tracey, saved with his foot. At the interval, Carlow led 1-11 to 0-10.
McGrattan converted an early second-half free and the gauntlet had been thrown down to the home side.
Carlow reacted well and when a long delivery found Doyle down the left; he made space for himself and beat Stephen Keith with a low shot. Minutes later, the competitiveness of the game died when Nolan took a perfect pass from Marty Kavanagh and duly found the net.
The Barrowsiders were in full flow at this stage. Their defence had tightened up considerably and had time to execute their deliveries which gave the Carlow forwards quality possession.
The goals followed with Nolan completing his hat-trick. Paddy Boland also ran at the defence and another green flag was raised. Ted Joyce completed the six-goal haul in the final quarter as Carlow eased to a simple win which even they themselves would have not expected only an hour earlier.
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Jack McCullagh; Paidi O’Shea, Kevin McDonald, Evan Kealy; James Doyle (1-3), Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-2); Jon Nolan (0-3), Ciaran Whelan (0-3), Conor Kehoe (0-2); Chris Nolan (3-1), Marty Kavanagh (0-6fs), Paddy Boland (1-1).
Subs: Ted Joyce (1-0) for Kavanagh (55), Donagh Murphy (0-2) for Whelan (64), Fiach O’Toole for Doyle (68), Jack Treacy for C Nolan (68), John Doyle for Kehoe (69).
DOWN: Stephen Keith; Niall McFarland, Tom Murray Matt Conlan; Marc Fisher, Caolan Taggart (0-1), Liam Savage; Donal Hughes, Phelim Savage; Eoghan Sands (0-1), Chris Egan (0-2), Pearse Og McCrickard (0-4); Tom McGrattan (0-8 2-65s 6fs), Finn Turpin, Tim Prenter (0-1).
Subs: Paul Sheehan 0-3 (1-sl) for L Savage (43), Ben Taggart for P Savage (43), Shea Pucci for McCrickard (55), Daithi Sands for N McFarland (55), Conor Cassidy for Murray (63).
Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).
