CARLOW’s match winner last Sunday in Aughrim, Jonah Dunne, was between O’Byrne Cup, league, Leinster championship and now Tailteann Cup making his seventh appearance for his county this year. Never an automatic starter he is the sort of player who can be relied on to come in and do a job. Last Sunday, that expectation was completely fulfilled when he punched over an historic winning score.

“It is my first ever senior intercounty point. It is brilliant. We have been working so hard to avenge what happened here five weeks ago. The winner was massive for me,” he said.

Jonah Dunne fists over the winning point against Wicklow last Sunday
Photo: Pat Ahern

Dunne was down on the programme to begin the game.

“I knew last Thursday I wasn’t starting. I prepared as a sub. It is the same preparations as if I was starting. I knew I would get my chance and was glad to be able to take it.”

“Niall (Carew) said most likely I would be coming on so I waited and was glad to take my opportunity.”

Fifteen minutes into the second half, he was told to warm up.

“Massive excitement,” Jonah said.

As the minutes ticked by Carlow looked defeat in the face. They survived.

“I think we always had belief. They scored the goal and went five points up. We started to claw them back and we always had that belief,” the Tinryland club player and DCU student explained.

Then came his moment and the punched winner.

“I saw Aaron Amond on the side of the square. I didn’t know what was left but I decided to take my point and live with the consequences. Massive relief.”

Carlow will be full of confidence for their next game in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.

“Looking like Limerick at home will be a massive opportunity at home for us as well. Hopefully we can get two more points which would bring us straight to the quarter-finals.”

Meanwhile, manager Niall Carew praised the contribution of businesses around Carlow who helped the preparation leading into the Tailteann Cup.

“I think it was down to local businesses in Carlow which got us over the line for that (win over Wicklow). I personally asked them would they donate a few bob towards the camp. They have all done it. Maybe 12-13 of them,” acknowledged the Kildare man.

“When you go and feed 40 lads and get hotel rooms, it adds up to be a big expense. We know where the county board are at. There are not too many trying to run the hurling and the football as an equal. So, when the whole thing is split 50-50 it is diluted for both teams. We just had to do something different. We needed that two-day camp to get lads back in the fold to think what it is all about and why we are here.”

Carew has named his team for this afternoon’s game against Limerick, tickets can be bought here.