Mattie Kenny has indicated Dublin may appeal the red card that rules Shane Barrett out of their crunch clash with Galway.
Eamonn Dillon blasted 2-2 at Netwatch Cullen Park to seal the big win – keeping Dublin on course for a top-three finish in Leinster.
But they’ll have to beat Galway next Saturday week to advance to the All-Ireland series and will be without Barrett as things stand.
The half-back was shown a straight red for a high challenge on Carlow midfielder Jack Kavanagh late in the first-half (above).
It didn’t affect Dublin on the day as they built on their 2-10 to 0-8 interval lead to win by a dozen points with just 14 men.
But they’ll need all their key lieutenants if they’re to pull off a famous win over Galway at Parnell Park on June 15. Kenny (inset) claimed Barrett didn’t deserve a straight red and said: “My understanding of the rule is that it is supposed to be striking with intent. I think a guy broke through and Shane’s reaction was to put up his hand and his hurl, there was no striking action. Was his arm and his hurl high? Yes, it was. But there was no striking action.
“There were five or six other incidents like that in the course of the game where guys would break a tackle and either the player ducks or their hand and hurl comes up. Unless there’s a deliberate striking action it shouldn’t be a red card.”
Carlow had a brief spell of dominance in the second-half which yielded 1-2 and a James Doyle goal.
But it was one-way traffic for the most part with Dubliner Dillon netting in the 13th and 30th minutes.
Free-taker Paul Ryan hit 0-9 in total while veteran Conal Keaney struck four points from play before being rested.
Cian Boland had a strong first-half before fading out while Eoghan O’Donnell was terrific in defence again. There was no Liam Rushe as the big full-forward is struggling with the ankle injury sustained against Kilkenny.
Kenny said he’s not sure if the ex-All-Star will be back for the cruciual Galway match.
Carlow are in big trouble after three straight defeats but could pull off a great escape if they beat Wexford and other results go their way.
Marty Kavanagh slammed a Carlow goal chance off the post in the 41st minute. Doyle went one better with a cool finish shortly after as Carlow conjured that 1-2.
But Dublin closed the game out with points from Ryan, Dillon, Ronan Hayes and sub Fergal Whitely.
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