Tomas Keyes of Laois in action against Jack McCullagh of Carlow during the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final match between Carlow and Laois at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final
Laois 2-22 Carlow 1-12
By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park
Laois were hardly extended in this National Hurling League 2A final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday as they eased to victory with an efficient second half performance.
Having lost to their neighbours in the group stages in Portlaoise earlier in the campaign, the O’Moore hurlers were on a mission this time. It had been decided a long time back that the team who topped the group would have home advantage in the final. It made no difference to the eventual winners here as, having played against the wind in the first half, they easily absorbed everything Carlow threw at them and eased to victory in the end.
Four of the Laois starting forwards scored from play in the opening half with Aaron Dunphy converting two frees. Keeper, Enda Rowland, powered over a long range free too but his two saves from Paddy Boland were crucial as it made sure Carlow didn’t build up any momentum.
Chris Nolan was Carlow’s most dangerous looking player but he was well marshalled by the Laois defence. He still landed two points from play while Marty Kavanagh converted three frees for the home side but they trailed 0-9 to 0-8 at the interval.
Carlow got off to a great start in the second half when Nolan levelled. They seemed to be moving into gear when Marty Kavanagh ran at the Laois defence and batted past the advancing Rowland. Almost immediately, celebration for the home side turned to anxiety and worry when Thomas Keyes found the net for a Laois goal from a narrow angle on the left.
They could have added their second three-pointer almost immediately but Brian Tracey in the Carlow goal spread himself well and saved. It was ominous at that stage for the Joe McDonagh Cup holders. Laois were hustling, harrying and fighting for everything. The home side were unable to match their rivals. Dunphy converted a free and kept the pressure on with another goal. This time Jer Quinlan beat Tracey and from there to the end, Laois dominated.
They could even afford to miss a penalty when Rowland saw his shot saved by Tracey as the game entered the final quarter. Carlow lost Dion Wall to a black card for his foul which drew the award. Even with fifteen, it wouldn’t have made an iota of difference to the result at that stage.
Carlow lived on scraps and Laois were good value for their thirteen-point winning margin at the end. Having won the NFL 4 title the day before, adding a league hurling title completed a superb double for the county.
Scorers for Laois: Aaron Dunphy 0-8 (3fs), Tomas Keyes 1-4 (sl f), Jer Quinlan 1-1, David Dooley, Fiachra C Fennell, John Lennon 0-2 each, Martin Phelan, Paddy Purcell, Enda Rowland (f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 1-5 (4fs), Chris Nolan 0-3, Jack Kavanagh, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, James Doyle, Conor Kehoe 0-1 each.
LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Ian Shanahan, Ryan Mullaney, Diarmaid Conway, Liam O’Connell, Padraig Delaney, Tom Cuddy, Aidan Corby, Paddy Purcell, John Lennon, Aaron Dunphy, David Dooley, Jer Quinlan, Martin Phelan, Tom Keyes. Subs: Fiachra C Fennell for Lennon (55), Donnchadh Hartnett for Cuddy (58), Willie Dunphy for Quinlan (59), Eric Killeen for Dooley (64), Lee Cleere for Dunphy (66).
CARLOW: B Tracey, P Doyle, D Wall, J McCullagh, T Lawlor, K McDonald, C Lawlor, James Doyle, F O’Toole, F Fitzpatrick, C Nolan, M Kavanagh, C Kehoe, J. M. Nolan, P Boland. Subs: R Coady for J Doyle (52), S Treacy for Boland (59), J Kavanagh for J.M Nolan (64), C Whelan for Kehoe (66), N Bolger for Lawlor (69).
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)