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Laois 3-9 Carlow 2-15
O’Byrne Shield Semi Final
Pre-season competition is over for the Laois senior footballers after they were beaten by Carlow in Rathvilly this afternoon.
Justin McNulty’s charges were five points down early in the first half but battled back to lead by three with 55 minutes played.
However, a late goal from Colm Hulton was the difference as Carlow progress to meet Wicklow in the Shield final next Friday.
This was a much changed Laois team from the side that lost to Dublin as manager McNulty made 14 changes – with just Niall Corbet surviving.
Laois started the game with a 45 from keeper Matthew Byron but then the home side took over.
Tadhg Roche, Sean Murphy, Conor Crowley and Paddy McDonnell all scored while Conor Doyle landed a two pointer.
But Laois were level by the 19th minute following a scoring blitz that started with an Alan Kinsella goal after he reacted quickest to a saved shot from Niall Corbet.
Paul Kingston and Cian Nolan drew Laois level but Carlow kicked on again as Ross Dunphy scored their first goal.
Conor Doyle and Paddy McDonnell added further points but Laois did finish the half well.
Corbet pointed and then Matthew Byron slotted a two point free which left it 1-8 to 1-6 in favour of Carlow at half time.
Carlow began the second period well with scores from Colm Hulton and Mikey Bambrick.
Laois cut the deficit to one though after 40 minutes and it was all about Cian Nolan.
The Park-Ratheniska man intercepted a Carlow attack and started a counter which resulted in him being dragged down for a penalty.
Paul Kingston converted it and then Laois won the next kickout and the ball came to sub Daragh Galvin who saw his shot blocked.
But the deflection brought it straight into the path of Alan Kinsella and he buried it from close range.
Ross Dunphy hit back for Carlow but Laois led 3-6 to 1-11 as we entered the final 15 minutes.
Sub Jake Darcy extended it further and then the excellent Cian Nolan moved Laois three clear with 55 minutes on the clock.
Colm Hulton hit back for Carlow and then Conor Doyle drew us level with his second two pointer.
And then the home side struck the front when Colm Hulton burst through and smashed a shot into the roof of Matthew Byron’s net.
Cian Nolan hit back for Laois but Shane Clarke kept Carlow three ahead with a breakaway point.
The only significant action after that saw Laois reduced to 14 men when sub Jake Darcy was sent off as Carlow advance.
SCORERS – Laois: Alan Kinsella 2-0, Paul Kingston 1-1 (0-1 free, 1-0 pen), Matthew Byron 0-3 (one 45, one two point free), Cian Nolan 0-3, Niall Corbet 0-1, Jake Darcy 0-1 Carlow: Conor Doyle 0-5 (two two pointers), Colm Hulton 1-2, Ross Dunphy 1-1, Paddy McDonnell 0-2, Tadhg Roche 0-1, Sean Murphy 0-1, Conor Crowley 0-1 (one free), Mikey Bambrick 0-1, Shane Clarke 0-1
LAOIS: Matthew Byron (Courtwood); Eoin Montague (Emo), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Alex Moran (Courtwood); Eoghan Slattery (Courtwood), Liam Knowles (Stradbally), Joey Shelley (Rosenallis); Ciaran Burke (Crettyard), Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s); Cian Nolan (Park-Ratheniska), Niall Corbet (Clonaslee St Manman’s), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise); Alan Kinsella (Courtwood), Cathal Lee (Clonaslee St Manman’s), Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen). SUBS: Aaron McEvoy (Ballyroan-Abbey) for Shelly and Daragh Galvin (Portarlington) for Lee (Both HT), Jake Darcy (Annanough) for Boland and Cian Ryle (Kilcavan) for Kinsella (43), Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise) for Montague (58)
CARLOW: Harry Clarke; Paddy McDonnell, Colin Byrne, Lee Moore; Tadgh Roche, Dara Curran, Padraig Bolger; Adam Burgess, Mark Furey; Ross Dunphy, Conor Doyle, Mikey Bambrick; Colm Hulton, Sean Murphy, Conor Crowley. SUBS: Shane Clarke for Furey (19, inj), Jamie Clarke for Murphy (33), Cian Cashman for Byrne (41), Liam Gavin for Crowley (53), Evan Corr for Dunphy (60)
REFEREE: Darragh Byrne
SEE ALSO – O’Byrne Cup: Dublin’s goal power makes the difference as Laois fall short
