Laois blitz Carlow

Laois hurlers comprehensively outclassed a lamentable Carlow side, winning by a comfortable 16-point margin before an attendance of 1,500 at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday. The winners lost their best player, Niall Rigney, when he was sent off midway through the second half.

Carlow, who scored a shock first-round win over Westmeath, were put to the sword by a Laois side which carried far too much combination and scoring power.

The visitors had put 2-8 on the scoreboard before Carlow opened their account in the 32nd minute with a point from play from left half forward Damian Roberts.

Things went well for Sean Cuddy's Laois team from the first minute when David Cuddy pointed a 35-metre free. Within a minute Darren Rooney, the Laois full forward, had ghosted inside his man to crash home a goal.

Carlow, coached by former Kilkenny goalkeeper Michael Walsh, were pathetic. Their first touch was dreadful; they were unable to master the rudiments of the game and when it came to scoring they were inept. By halftime Laois were looking towards the next round, having amassed a 2-9 to 0-1 advantage.

The second half was largely a damage-limitation exercise for the home side. Des Murphy crashed home a goal 14 minutes into the half, but Laois stormed downfield and Darren Rooney was hauled down by goalkeeper Pat Fenlon for a penalty.

Niall Rigney, up to then his side's best player, took the penalty but his blistering shot was superbly saved by Fenlon. En route to his half-back position Rigney was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Carlow centre back Martin Farrell, which led to Rigney being red carded by referee Gerry Devlin.

The loss of a player made no difference to the trend of the game and it was Laois who scored the last four points of the game as the Carlow challenge collapsed completely.

The game was held up for some seven minutes due to an injury to Carlow midfielder, James Hickey, which saw him stretchered off.

LAOIS: J Lyons; P Mahon, S Dooley, D Killeen; N Rigney, P Cuddy, J O'Sullivan (0-1); D Conroy (1-2), J Phelan (0-1); C Cuddy (0-1), D Cuddy (0-4, three frees), O Dowling (0-3); F O'Sullivan (0-1), D Rooney (1-2), P Phelan (0-2).

CARLOW: P Fenlon; E Coady, T Doyle, P Keogh; A Gaule, M Farrell, B Murphy; J Hickey, J Nevin (0-1); J Leamy, D Murphy (1-0), D Roberts (0-1); M Slye, T Walsh (0-1), J Kavanagh (0-1). Subs: J Byrne for Leamy; L Kenny for B Murphy; P Coady for Hickey; B Lawlor for Kavanagh; C Kealy for Roberts.

Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).