A last-gasp point from half forward Ross Munnelly was enough to earn Laois a draw in their Leinster semi-final at Croke Park yesterday. Munnelly sent over an excellent point in injury-time from an ambitious angle to cap off a comeback that saw his side score three points in the last four minutes to earn a draw.
Westmeath, leading 0-4 to 0-2 at halftime, were pegged back before again surging ahead thanks to three points from Colm Whyte and one from Tom Browne. PJ Harding sent over two frees in the closing stages to set the Laois revival in motion and when substitute Jarlath Challoner kicked an excellent long-range effort, the scene was set for Munnelly to deliver the equalising point. The replay has been set for July 8th in Tullamore.
WESTMEATH: E Farrell; D O'Donoghue, K Larkin, F Newman (0-1); D McDermott, A Lambdon, Glennon; P Leavy, G Flanagan; C Brennan, C Whyte (0-4), T Browne (0-1); A Hickey (0-1), PJ Ward (0-2), L Reilly. Subs: J O'Shaughnessy for Larkin 35 mins, G McDonald for Reilly 47 mins, N Adamson for Ward 55 mins.
LAOIS: M Nolan; S Dwyer, D Hogan, P Dunne; G Walsh, L Hyland, M McNulty; D Miller, D McEvoy; R Munnelly (0-3), B O Connell, M Brennan; J Nolan (0-1), J Enright, PJ Harding (0-4). Subs: P Turley for Enright 45 mins, J Challoner (0-1) for Nolan 49 mins, B Brennan for O'Connell 57 mins, E Dooley for Miller 58.
Referee: David Goldrick (Meath).
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