Laois beat Down to avoid the drop

Laois 1-16 Down 2-10

This was a must win game for the home team while Down still had an outside chance of promotion to Division One, but from the throw in Laois looked the hungrier team and within six minutes of the throw in they were four points in front and coasting.

Down were struggling but after eight minutes they stunned the home following when half forward Conor Maginn got past two defenders to slam home a great goal.

Laois responded with a point by Donal Kingston before a great run down field saw centre forward John O’Loughlin drag the ball over the line for a Laois goal.

Down were dealt a cruel blow after 22 minutes when their experienced forward Benny Coulter received a black card and was replaced by Kevin McKernan.

Laois produced their best football in the closing 15 minutes, shooting five points and the visitors’ only response was a point by Donal O’Hare leaving the half time score 1-10 to 1-1 in favour of the home team.

Red card
Down were dealt a further blow in the second half when full back Brendan McArdle was black carded after 47 minutes.

Laois then had full back Denis Booth red carded for a reckless tackle on Donal O’Hare with 20 minutes left.

Down were awarded a penalty after the sending off and Aidan Carr made no mistake to reduce the arrears to four points.

Laois were under severe pressure but late points by Donal Kingston, John O’Loughlin and David Conway made it more comfortable.

However three in five minutes by substitute Jerome Johnson meant a nervous finish but with results going their way in the other games, Laois hung on to Division Two football for another year.

LAOIS: G Brody; P McMahon, D Booth, P O'Leary; D Strong (0-1), P Begley, C Begley; K Meaney, J O'Loughlin (1-2); J Finn (0-1), C Meredith (0-1), B Sheehan; R Munnelly (0-6), D Kingston (0-3), D Conway (0-2). Subs: D O'Connor for B Sheehan (47 mins), R Kehoe for D Booth (bc , 51 mins), Evan O'Carroll for J Finn (68 mins), MJ Tierney for D Conway (69 mins).
DOWN: B McVeigh; D McCartan, B McArdle, O Costelloe; D Rooney, A Carr (1-0), C Garvey; P Turley, B Coulter (0-1); C Maginn (1-0), M Poland, A Rogers; D O'Hare (0-4), N Madine (0-1), P Devlin. Subs: K McKernan for B Coulter (bc, 22 m ins), C Laverty (0-1) for P Turley half-time), C Toner for P Devlin (45 mins), J Johnston (0-3) for D O'Hare (53 mins).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).