Carlow make better use of goal route to down Laois
Goals win games they say and after this Joe McDonagh Cup first round game at Netwatch Cullen Park it was Carlow's ability to find the net that made the difference as they ran out 4-17 to 1-17 winners over Laois.
In each half, Carlow scored two goals and could well have had a few more as Laois will surely feel they underperformed when they needed it most.
The sides shared four points each in the opening minutes with one each from Carlow's Jon Nolan and Conor Kehoe which cancelled out two from Aaron Dunphy. After Dunphy and David Dooley raised further white flags, the visitors looked to have put themselves in prime position but Carlow penetrated the visitors defence as Laois failed to deal with the dropping ball and James Doyle pounced for a goal.
The home team went further ahead with Nolan adding another point and Marty Kavanagh also converting two frees. Ben Conroy scored two points for Laois but just before the half-time break, Carlow struck for a second three-pointer when Chris Nolan found Fiachra Fitzpatrick and he drilled a low shot to the right-hand corner of the net. That strike helped the home side into a 2-09 to 0-08 lead at the break.
By the 45th minute Laois had scored 1-04 without reply to level the game. Conroy scored the 38th minute goal. The visitors looked to have the momentum to go on and take the victory. That never happened and by the end of the game they would only score five more points with Stephen Maher raising four white flags after his introduction at half-time.
Carlow set their stall and an excellent side-line cut by Chris Nolan saw them put their noses back in front. Two Kavanagh frees extended the home lead. With fifteen minutes to go, Chris Nolan planted the ball into the back of the net for what was a priceless goal.
The home side dominated and were rewarded when Conor Kehoe scored a fourth goal. That sealed the victory for the eventual winners who comfortably dealt with what Laois had which, on this occasion, was never going to be enough.
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Jack McCullagh; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick (1-1); Jon Nolan (0-2), Ciaran Whelan; Jack Treacy (0-1), Marty Kavanagh (0-9fs), James Doyle (1-1); Donagh Murphy, Conor Kehoe (1-1), Chris Nolan (1-2, 0-1sl).
Subs: Paddy Boland for Murphy (44), John Michael Nolan for Kehoe (59), Colm Beck for Kavanagh (70), Richard Coady for J Nolan (72), Ted Joyce for Treacy (73).
Laois: Cathal Dunne; Ian Shanahan, Lee Cleere, Diarmuid Conway; Ciaran McEvoy, Padraig Delaney, Fiachra C Fennell; David Dooley (0-1), Aidan Corby; Aaron Dunphy (0-9 7fs), Jack Kelly (0-1), Ryan Mullaney; Ben Conroy (1-2), Martin Phelan, Tomas Keyes.
Subs: Stephen Maher (0-4 1f) for Phelan (h/t), James Keyes for Cleere (h/t), Gearoid Lynch for Kelly (55), Cillian Dunne for Corby (59), Mark Dowling for Conroy (72).
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).
