There were huge outpourings of joy at Croke Park this evening as Carlow won an unbelievable Joe McDonagh Cup final in extra time by a score of 2-29 to 1-31.
It was open, electric, mad hurling. Carlow lead as many as seven, only for 14-man Offaly to reel them in and force added time. Offaly lead very late into second half extra time only for Chris Nolan to score a point that will be talked about for years to come in Carlow.
Full-time after extra-time: Carlow 2-29 Offaly 1-31
Chris Nolan's late point wins the Joe McDonagh Cup for Carlow. They are promoted to the Leinster SHC.
📺 Watch: https://t.co/ced90fC20O
📱 Updates: https://t.co/UudPo3lgyO #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/FTCs2OTGQl— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 27, 2023
After the final whistle, there was jubilation amongst the Carlow support. Offaly entered the game as favourite but Tom Mullally claimed another big win at GAA headquarters.
Just witnessed nearly 100 minutes of pure determination, grit, passion and never ever lay down attitude! There’s digging deep and then there’s the @Carlow_GAA hurling team….#unbelievable
❤️💛💚 pic.twitter.com/RHrdoagYUE— Deirdre Tomlinson (@DeirdreTomlins1) May 27, 2023
What a game! It was brutally tough on the #Offaly lads in Croke Park, but I know from my time working with The Carlow Nationalist newspaper, that the county has so many great GAA people. Look at the absolute JOY when Paul Doyle lifted the Joe McDonagh Cup! Congrats #Carlow 👏 pic.twitter.com/RYK1FlLH1V
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) May 27, 2023
Fabulous for Carlow, glory days. 👑 pic.twitter.com/DHuf4GPjML
— Will Downing (@WillDowningComm) May 27, 2023
Pivotal red card
A controversial first-half red card for Offaly cornerback Dara Maher had a major impact on the shape of the game.
Maher was sent off for grabbing a faceguard inside the box with just 31 minutes gone in the Joe McDonagh Cup final, as the faithful county fell to Carlow by just a single point after extra time.
While it was a definite penalty for Carlow, plenty of Hurling fans will be perplexed with the red card that ensued that was if nothing else wholly inconsistent with the way Walsh was letting things go.
Penalty to Carlow, which results in a red card for Offaly's Dara Maher, and Marty Kavanagh fires to the net.
📺 Watch: https://t.co/ced90fBubg
📱 Updates: https://t.co/UudPo3kIJg #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/tvnanYqb9f— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 27, 2023
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