This latest success gives the formidable ‘A’ side their fifth Umbro Cup win in five years and a total of six in the past seven.
The only goal of a tightly contested game came with 20 minutes remaining after striker Dean Broaders, recently snapped up by Waterford United, ran on to a perfectly placed through ball from Anthony McAlavey and cooly beat a helpless Sean Fogarty.
A fairly even opening half with plenty of edge to it ended in dramatic style when IT Carlow ‘B’ had a great chance to go in front from the penalty spot in time added on. Ross Fitzgerald was taken down in the box by McAlavey but the opportunity was missed when ‘A’ team goalkeeper Darren McGarry guessed correctly to keep out Ryan Murray’s effort.
Earlier the ‘A’ team might have opened the scoring when Broaders saw his goal bound shot blocked by Mitch Kelly. Later McAlavey’s well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box was turned away by goalkeeper Fogarty.
While at the other end Murray dragged his effort just past the post and Stephen Last had to be alert to clear a Stephen Moloney header.
The second half continued in the same vain with neither side managing to take control until Broaders seized the opportunity the fire home the important score.
In a final effort McGarry had to be at his best in the closing minutes to keep out a great strike from Jamie Smith as the ‘B’ side battled to get back on terms.
ITCARLOW‘A’: D McGarry; E Dempsey (M Keeley 72), S Last, D McGuinness, G O’Boyle; A McAlavey, T Croke (J Bonner 60), K McDaid, A Mulligan (C Poole 80); A O’Rourke (U Ivkovic 72), D Broaders (J Morgan 87).
ITCARLOW‘B’: S Fogarty; E Rogers (S Osbourne 61), S Moloney, J Smith (R Ryan 87), M Kelly; E O’Neill, I O’Brien (A Wall 61), R Fitzgerald (E McDonald 82), R Wogan; S Lawless, R Murray.
Referee: G Fitzgerald (Waterford).
B TEAM CUP FINAL
Evan Herd struck the winning goal deep into extra-time to give the IT Carlow ‘C’ team a narrow 3-2 victory over IT Blanchardstown in the Colleges FAI ‘B’ Team cup final at Waterford IT Sports Campus.
A Daniel O’Donovan header from Karl Murray’s free kick had put the Dublin side into an early lead. But Carlow struck back to lead 2-1 by the interval.
Neil Heffernan levelled with a penalty on 16 minutes and a Darren Rogers goal put them in front on 43 minutes.
Blanchardstown quickly got back on terms when Brian McCrossan beat goalkeeper Joe Smyth with a well placed free kick shortly after the restart.
