Carlow see off near rivals with late point

GAELIC GAMES: CARLOW - 2-11  LAOIS - 1-13:Carlow, trained by former Laois player Pat Rowe, caused a mild upset when they came from eight points down to snatch victory with a late point in a well-contested O'Byrne cup semi-final at Portarlington yesterday.

For a game played in spring-like conditions, Laois welcomed back Michael Lawlor after suspension and he scored a well-taken goal which seemed to set Laois on the road to victory as they led 1-5 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.

However, Carlow fought back and when they were awarded a penalty just before half-time Brian Carberry made no mistake with a spotkick.

At the interval Laois led 1-8 to 1-5 and the third quarter belonged to the home side. They led 1-12 to 1-7 with 15 minutes remaining.

However, in the final 10 minutes Laois were reduced to 14 men and a well-taken goal by sharp-shooter Carberry levelled the game with three minutes remaining.

Then substitute Brian Kelly snatched victory with a dramatic late point. And it will be Carlow who will face Wicklow in the O'Byrne Cup final in Carlow on Sunday.

The Cavan attack got their act together in the second half of a lively challenge in Scotstown to edge past Monaghan 2-11 to 0-14. Substitute Gerard Pearson proved the matchwinner with four excellent points.Barry McCrudden, another substitute,struck two points at a vital stage.

CARLOW: P McGrath; J Hickey, B Farrell, A Corden; J Kavanagh (0-1), A Corcoran, M Drea; P Kiernan, S Kavanagh (0-1); G Walker, (0-1), W Quinlan, J McGrath; B Carberry (2-6), J Nevin, P Nolan. Substitutess: M Walker for J McGrath; M Carpenter for J Hickey; T Walsh for P Nolan; S O'Brien (0-1) for P Kiernan; B Kelly (0-1) for G Walker.

LAOIS: F Byron; D Ryan, J Higgins, P Conway; P Leonard, D Conroy, B McCormack (0-2); J Kealy, N Garvan; I Fitzgerald (0-5), C Conway (0-3) G Ramsbottom; E Kelly, M Lawlor, (1-1), B McDonald (0-2). Substitutes: D Brennan for D Ryan; P McDonald for P Conway.

Referee: T Quigley (Wexford)

SF CHALLENGE: Scorers: Cavan 2-11- J Reilly 1-1; G Pearson 0-4; M Graham 1-0; B McCrudden 0-2; E Reilly 0-1, R Rogers 0-1, F Reilly 0-1, E King 0-1each. Monaghan 0-14 - D Freeman 0-4; T Freeman, F Mone 0-3 each; C Malone , J McElroy 0-2 each.