Laois get act together in second half to set up meeting with Dublin

LEINSTER SHC Laois 1-13 Carlow 0-10: AN ABSENCE of belief cost Carlow the opportunity of a shock victory over neighbours Laois at O'Moore Park on Saturday night. That was the assessment of manager Kevin Ryan who admitted he knew the game was over with 25 minutes remaining.

That might sound strange given that only six points separated the sides but in those opening 15 minutes of the second half, Laois scored a goal and four points to turn a one-point deficit into what was ultimately their winning margin.

Carlow couldn’t muster a response and according to Ryan, the players’ heads had dropped.

“I’d say we hurled really well for a long time in the first half and then we didn’t hurl in the second half,” said Ryan.

“They got a grip on it the first 10 minutes of the second half and we kind of gave it to them after that, I felt.

“I thought mentally, we dropped. I felt on the line 10 minutes into the second half the game was over and I’d say that feeling was through the field and we were only three or four points down at that stage.

“You could feel it, no matter what you did to change it, once you get to that stage you’re in trouble. It wasn’t lack of commitment or anything like that. I thought we were mentally weak.”

Carlow’s power and industry provided Laois with numerous problems in the first half and earned the underdogs a 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead, despite them having played into a strong wind.

Laois goalkeeper and poc fada champion Eoin Reilly sent his puck outs raining down behind the Carlow half-back line but the tactic paid no dividends, with Laois having to rely on the accuracy of Matthew Whelan from placed balls for four of their points. At the other end, Denis Murphy contributed four points from similar opportunities, and Carlow were full value for their half-time advantage.

Laois burst out of the traps after the resumption, scoring 1-4 without reply to give themselves what ultimately proved the winning margin.

Joe Fitzpatrick’s 40th-minute goal was the critical score, as the midfielder – the game’s outstanding player – collected a hand-pass from Willie Hyland before unleashing a thunderous shot that gave Frank Foley no chance.

Both sides had penalties saved and Reilly was forced into two smart saves from Robbie Foley and Doyle but Laois’s quarter-final date with Dublin never looked under serious threat.

“I’d describe it as a Jekyll and Hyde performance, really” said Laois boss Niall Rigney. “Our first half was poor. We seemed to be very nervous on the ball.

“It’s our first championship game this year and we’re not used to the favourites’ tag, if we’re honest about it. We’re all just happy to get over the line.

“I’m very proud with the way the lads applied themselves in the second half.”

LAOIS:E Reilly; JA Delaney, C Healy, D Maher; B Campion, M Whelan 0-4 (two 65s, two frees), M McEvoy; J Fitzpatrick 1-3, J Walsh 0-1; W Hyland, C Delaney, E Costelloe 0-1; Z Keenan, T Fitzgerald 0-3, J Brophy 0-1. Subs:J Purcell for Keenan (50 mins); J Phelan for C Delaney (62 mins); C Dunne for Maher, S Dollard for Walsh (both 70 mins)

CARLOW:F Foley; A Corcoran, J Rogers, D Shaw; E Nolan, J Hickey, E Coady; M Brennan, D Byrne 0-1; D Murphy 0-4 (three frees, 65), S Kavanagh, E Byrne; D Roberts, C Doyle 0-3, A Gaule. Subs:R Coady for Brennan blood (23-24); Coady for Kavanagh, R Foley for Byrne (both 47 mins); HP O'Byrne for Shaw, P Kehoe 0-2 (one free) for Murphy (both 58 mins); B Lawler for Roberts (66 mins)

Referee:J McGrath (Westmeath).