Laois Ladies preserve Senior status after gritty victory over Cavan in relegation semi-final

The Laois Ladies have secured their place in next year’s All-Ireland Senior Championship after victory over Cavan.

The game was dominated by poor refereeing decisions as Laois received three dubious yellow cards as well as Sarah Anne Fitzgerald receiving a red card for a second yellow card.

Laois 0-10

Cavan 1-5

Laois began the brighter of the two as Eva Galvin pointed straight from throw-in with a superb outside of the boot effort. Two more scores would follow for Laois as Mo Nerney pointed a free as Galvin was fouled. Nerney got her second score of the contest as she kicked a fine score from play.

Cavan got their first score of the game courtesy of Muireann Cusack as she dissected the posts. The first yellow of the card followed as Cavan’s Aisling Walls was sent off for 10 minutes for what looked like a soft yellow.

Aisling Gilsenan put a single point in the game midway through the first half with a free. Another yellow card would follow this time for a Laois player as Mo Nerney received a yellow for three ticks in the referee’s book.

Laois kicked on with a player less as Sarah Anne Fitzgerald pointed a free to push Donie Brennan’s side into a two-point lead. It would Fitzgerald’s last action of the game however as shortly after she was given a yellow card for a slide tackle, one in which she got the ball and made no contact but referee Eddie Cuthbert flashed a yellow in her direction. The Portlaoise forward was then shown a second yellow card for her reaction to the referee’s decision with Laois permanently down to 14 players for the rest of the contest.

Cavan kicked the final score of the half as Gilsenan pointed a free to leave one between the sides, 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Laois.

The All-Ireland Intermediate champions showed superb resilience at the beginning of the second period as they kicked over four points without reply. Grainne Moran kicked a free with the usual free taker Nerney still serving her 10 minute sin bin.

Nerney returned to the field and showed her class as the Timahoe woman pointed two frees while she also raised a white flag from play. Laois now held an advantage of five points as it looked as if they had enough in the tank to secure the victory. Laois would once again be reduced to 13 players as Andrea Moran was shown a yellow card.

Cavan responded well to the Laois onslaught as Gilsenan slotted over a free. Laois almost got in for goal only to see Shifra Havill’s effort rattle the right-hand post. Laois’ lead would be reduced to one as good play from Cusack saw her find Ellyanna Madden, who sidestepped Eimear Barry and blasted into an empty net.  Orla Hennessey pointed a super score for Laois as they saw the clock edge closer to the 60 minute mark.

Gilsenan slotted over another free for Cavan but it was a goal they needed in order to snatch victory away from Laois.

The goal wouldn’t come for Cavan however as Nerney pointed for the sixth time to wrap up a two-point victory for Laois and secure their status as a Senior county for next year’s All-Ireland.