Allianz Football League Division 4

CARLOW 2-11 LEITRIM 0-5

LAOIS 0-18 WATERFORD 1-11

By John Fallon

**Carlow **and **Laois **continued their excellent start to their Division 4 campaigns in the Allianz League as they chalked up their third win in a row.

Carlow defeated Leitrim by 2-11 to 0-5 at Netwatch Cullen Park, while Laois scored a 0-18 to 1-11 win over Waterford at O’Moore Park.

Turlough O’Brien’s Carlow built on an interval lead of double scores, when they turned around leading by 1-5 to 0-4.

Leitrim, beaten in both of their opening games, managed just one point in the second-half as Carlow pushed on for a deserved success.

Carlow captain John Murphy led from the front for the Barrowsiders and crowned a fine display by scoring both goals.

Carlow got on top from the outset and Murphy’s opening goal from a penalty helped them race into a 1-3 to 0-0 after less than ten minutes.

Points from Damien Moran and Keith Beirne got Leitrim moving, with Noel Plunkett also finding the target for the visitors.

A Beirne free cut the gap to a goal but Brendan Murphy’s second point of the half left Carlow ahead by 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.

Carlow pushed on after the restart with Paul Broderick landing two frees before John Murphy got his second goal of the contest.

There was no way back for Leitrim after that with Darragh Rooney getting their only score of the second-half as they fell to their third defeat of the campaign and will now be looking to respond when they entertain Limerick next time out.

Meanwhile, Laois also maintained their push for promotion with a hard-earned win over Waterford in difficult wind and rain in Portlaoise.

Laois led by 0-8 to 1-3 at the break after Waterford had opened up a goal lead at the end of the opening quarter when JJ Hutchinson found the net.

That goal was cancelled by good points from Gary Walsh, Paul Kingston and Kieran Lillis for Laois.

Both sides battled to master the elements after the restart and Laois were forced to dig deep to maintain their perfect start to the campaign.

Jason Curry kept Waterford in contention but the accuracy of Gary Walsh for Laois was decisive and they finished strongly to secure their third win of the campaign.

They will take their perfect record away to Wicklow in two weeks, while Waterford will hope they get their first win when they entertain high-flying Carlow.