Super sub Ben Conroy helps Laois withstand late Carlow flurry

Laois 1-17 Carlow 1-14

Laois half-time substitute Ben Conroy made an instant impact, scoring 1-2 in the opening minutes of the half as the O'Moore County stormed into an eight-point lead which Carlow were unable to claw back, despite a brave late rally at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

This was a championship game low in quality for the attendance of 2,000. The tricky wind made good hurling difficult but hardly explained the inordinate number of sideline cuts produced over the course of the game.

It was pretty much score for score in the opening half with the visitors establishing a two-point interval lead of 0-7 to 0-5.

The half was a tale of the two free-takers, Laois midfielder Zane Keenan and Carlow's Marty Kavanagh.

Little impact

Generally both defences were on top with neither full forward line able to make any significant impact. The only score from play from either starting inside forward line was Seán Murphy’s point on the hour mark.

The game turned in favour of Laois in the opening minutes of the second half. A Keenan point from a free was supplemented by another from Conroy. Then in the fourth minute a low-trajectory free from Keenan caused confusion in the Carlow defence and Conroy scrambled the ball to the net.

An invigorated Laois went on to dominate and were 1-15 to 0-7 ahead by the 54th minute.

But Carlow finished strongly, picking off a succession of points before Eddie Byrne got a goal just as the game was about to enter injury time.

While there was a slight chance of a levelling goal a confident save from Laois goalkeeper Enda Rowland signalled the end of the game.

Overall this was a lacklustre championship tie which produced little more than a few glimmers in the way of real quality.

Zane Keenan top-scored for Laois with 0-10, 0-9 from frees while Marty Kavanagh notched 0-7 from frees for the Barrowsiders.

LAOIS: E Rowland; J A Delaney, C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, J Campion; Z Keenan (0-10, 0-9 frees), P Purcell; P J Scully (0-1), S Maher (0-1), C Dwyer (0-2); R King, W Hyland, T Fitzgerald.

Subs: B Conroy (1-3) for Scully (half-time), P Whelan for Maher (63).

CARLOW: K Kehoe; S Kavanagh, J Rogers, A Corcoran; R Coady, D English (0-2), E Coady; D Byrne (0-2), C Wall; J M Nolan, E Byrne (1-1), J Kavanagh (0-1); Seán Murphy (0-1), Seamus Murphy, M Kavanagh (0-7, frees).

Subs: P Coady for Seamus Murphy (43); M Brennan for Wall (46), G Coady for J Kavanagh (65).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).