Laois are through to the Joe McDonagh Cup final after an incredibly dramatic finish to their final game against Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon. Kildare now await in the final as they defeated Down.
Laois needed just a draw from the game to ensure their passage to the final as they had a higher score difference than Carlow, and a goal in the dying seconds secured that draw from the jaws of defeat.
Laois 1-20
Carlow 2-17
The hosts led for the majority of the contest after an early goal from Chris Nolan gave them the advantage from the off.
The visitors battled back well to trail by just a point at half time and went score for score early in the second half, before a goal midway through the half gave Carlow the initiative once again and they appeared to have the win under wraps, but a 65 in the 75th minute of the game fired in by Podge Delaney found its way into the net via James Duggan and Mark Dowling.
Tomas Keyes got the game’s opening score within seconds of the throw-in, but things would soon turn sour for Laois as Ciaran Whelan fired back from play and Marty Kavanagh landed his first free of the game. Carlow continued to apply the pressure early on, and a long-range free from Kevin McDonald was plucked from the sky by Chris Nolan, and he turned to lash the ball into the net from close range.
Keyes replied with an excellent effort from the 65 as he was falling, but Fiachra Fitzpatrick quickly hit back after winning possession in midfield. Podge Delaney and Keyes each struck frees before one in return from Kavanagh, but the momentum was with Laois as they would go on to notch five scores to no reply. The first came from another good Keyes effort before Jer Quinlan slotted excellently. Camross man Keyes added a further three from placed balls as Laois regained the lead by two points in the 24th minute.
Carlow matched Laois’ effort as Kavanagh slotted four frees in succession and John Michael Nolan struck from the wing to make it five on the trot as the hosts came roaring back. Laois would have the final say in the half however, as Keyes hit back twice with a 65 and a free to make it 1-9 to 0-11.
The hosts opened the second half with scores from Chris Nolan and Martin Kavanagh to increase their lead to three. Tom Cuddy got Laois off the mark in the second half as he did well to intercept a ball on the right wing and fire it over the bar. Paddy Boland and James Doyle each struck brilliant efforts for Carlow as the rain began to drive out from the sky, but it didn’t affect Keyes much, who slotted three frees to keep Laois in touch.
The visitors were dealt a massive blow just moments later when Kavanagh showed great strength on the left wing to win possession and hold off a couple of opponents before handing the ball out to Boland who took off on a run inside and smashed it into the net in the 53rd minute to put four between them.
Jon Nolan split the posts just seconds later and Laois looked to be out of luck as the game approached the final 10 minutes.
A couple of frees from Keyes ignited Laois once again and Aaron Dunphy landed a huge free from his own 65 as the visitors attempted to rally.
Carlow continued to look dangerous however and they benefitted from their attacks with two pointed 65s by Kavanagh.
Laois cut the gap back to two points coming into injury time with a Keyes free and a fine point from James Duggan, but Kavanagh was as consistent as ever on the frees and he fired over in the 71st minute to bring it back to three.
Three added minutes were signaled by the referee and as the clock ticked into the 74th, Podge Delaney stood over a 65 and with the last play of the game he fired it into the mass of bodies in front of the Carlow goals and Mark Dowling got the final touch to save the draw and send Laois into the final.
SCORERS – Laois: Tomas Keyes 0-15 (ten frees, two 65s), Jer Quinlan, Podge Delaney (free), Tom Cuddy, Aaron Dunphy and James Duggan 0-1 each. Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 0-10 (seven frees, two 65s), Chris Nolan and Paddy Boland 1-1 each, John Michael Nolan, Ciaran Whelan, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Jon Nolan, James Doyle 0-1 each.
LAOIS: Cathal Dunne; Donnchadh Hartnett, Lee Cleere, Diarmaid Conway; Tom Cuddy, Padraig Delaney, Ryan Mullaney; Paddy Purcell, David Dooley; Aidan Corby, Tomas Keyes, John Lennon; Jer Quinlan, Cha Dwyer, Ben Conroy. Subs: Aaron Dunphy for Lennon (51), Mark Dowling for Dwyer (60), James Keyes for Quinlan (65), James Duggan for Conroy (66)
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Tony Lawlor; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; Ciaran Whelan, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, James Doyle, John Michael Nolan; Chris Nolan, Marty Kavanagh, Paddy Boland. Subs: Ted Joyce for J Nolan (66)
REFEREE: Caymon Flynn
