London manager Tommy Harrell admitted side's failure to hold on for a famous win over Carlow was heartbreaking.

The Exiles looked set to cause a major upset in yesterday's Leinster SHC round-robin opener at Ruislip when leading by four points in the closing stages, but John Meyler's men staged a late comeback which culminated in Marty Kavanagh's injury-time equaliser point.

"We led for the majority of the game and to be pegged back in the 72nd minute is heartbreaking," Harrell said in the Irish Daily Star.

"I'm very proud of the lads, though. It was a fantastic performance.

"At the start of the game, we would have taken a draw, but on the balance of play we definitely deserved to win."

His opposite number John Meyler conceded that Carlow were lucky to claim a share of the spoils.

"We looked very nervous today," he reflected.

"We had a great start with Marty getting two goals; we looked as though we were on song. But we went to sleep midway through the first half and London came back into it with frees.

"Their goal at the start of the second half gave them a six-point cushion, but fair dues to the lads, they battled back. Jack Kavanagh came on and got a few scores.

"It's a point won rather than a point lost." Tweet

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