O’Brien and Brown to fore as Laois defeat Carlow

Laois got the better of Carlow on Tuesday evening last to kickstart their U-20 Leinster Football Championship with a  seven-point home victory.

The sides were due to meet in Laois Hire O’Moore Park, but a decision was made to move it out to the Centre of Excellence as O’Moore Park has been busy as of late and the rain that fell in the build up to Tuesday night will have done the already under pressure surface no favours.

LAOIS 3-8

CARLOW 0-10

Patrons lined the fence of the CoE huddled under a vast array of umbrellas as they attempted to hide from the incessant rainfall on a stormy spring evening.

The visitors kicked with the wind behind them in the opening half and looked the better of the two as they held a three point lead late in the half.

However, one of Laois’ star men on the night Jamie O’Brien fired his team level with a goal to level things up at the break, perhaps against the run of play as Carlow had dominated much of the half.

O’Brien struck early again in the second with a goal, whilst Conor Brown put on a top class display of goalkeeping at the other end, denying Carlow three goals, including an excellent penalty stop in the final minutes of the game.

Carlow initially took the lead just two minutes into the game with a well worked point from Adam Burgess into the de facto town end. As the intensity of the rain increased the scoring slowed as Carlow had to wait 10 minutes for their next score, a free from Liam Gavin but Brandon Cassidy made it three just two minutes later and Laois were still scoreless.

St Joseph's forward O’Brien got Laois’ scoring underway eventually on 17 minutes with a well taken free and Jack Byrne doubled their tally a moment later.

Carlow battled back and used the breeze well with another score each for Gavin and Burgess to reinstate their three point advantage.

Jonah Kelly hit back from distance for Laois before O’Brien came agonisingly close to getting the game’s opening goal but his shot cannoned off the crossbar and over for a point.

John Phiri’s general play had been very impressive early on for the visitors and he registered his first two scores late in the half to keep three between the sides.

That gap was cut to naught instantly when Jonah Kelly pinged a long ball from range down to O’Brien and this time he made no mistake in finding the net to ensure the sides were on level pegging at half time.

The goals continued into the second half for Laois when O’Brien was once on the end of a great team move by Laois to lace the ball high into the net and give them a big advantage.

Conor Brown was called into action twice to deny goals in response from Carlow but they did register a couple of points through Josh Egan and Cialan Brady to cut the gap to one on 44 minutes.

O’Brien settled the nerves slightly for the home side with a free as Carlow were also reduced to 14 men with a black card to Mark Molloy on 49 minutes. Laois drove home the one-man advantage with their third goal of the game, this time a solo effort from Killian Byrne as he battled to win a kick out and tore in on goal to hammer it home and put Laois five ahead on 52 minutes.

Gavin and O’Brien traded frees a minute later and Laois were also reduced to 14 with a black card for John Brennan.

Carlow were given a golden opportunity to put huge pressure on Laois for the final few minutes when Brandon Kelly stepped up to take a penalty but Brown got down low to his right corner and got a strong hand to deny a goal.

Laois saw out the game with a couple of scores from Jack Byrne and Cillian Maher to seal the win. They will now travel to Wexford on Tuesday evening with The Yellowbellies having lost to Wicklow in the opening round.