Joe McDonagh Cup: Carlow defeat Laois

Joe McDonagh Cup

Carlow 4-17 Laois 1-17

By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park

Carlow got their Joe McDonagh Cup campaign off to a great start at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Playing against the slight breeze, Jon Nolan and Conor Kehoe scored points for the home side, but Aaron Dunphy scored two from play for Laois.

After the visitors went two clear, Laois looked set to take over, but Carlow eked out a three-pointer when they played the ball long into the edge of the small square. The Laois defence failed to deal with the dropping ball and James Doyle, in his first competitive game of the intercounty season, pounced for a goal.

The home team built on their lead with Nolan adding another point and Marty Kavanagh also on the mark from placed balls.

Ben Conroy scored two points for Laois, but just before the half-time break, Carlow struck for a second three-pointer. Chris Nolan looked as if he had been held up but he found Fiachra Fitzpatrick on the 20 metre line with a pass and he drilled a low shot to the right-hand corner of the net. The 2-9 to 0-8 lead probably flattered the home side at the interval, but it all looked immaterial as Laois scored 1-4 without reply after the restart to level.

Incredibly, Laois would only score five more points in 25 minutes as Carlow took over. The visitors relied heavily on Stephen Maher, who scored four points after his introduction at half-time.

A brilliantly executed side-line cut by Chris Nolan yielded a point and that kick-started the home side’s surge for the line. Two Kavanagh frees extended the Carlow lead. With 15 minutes to go, Nolan ran at the visiting defence and gave an exposed Cathal Dunne no chance in the Laois goal.

With just 15 minutes left to play it was Carlow’s to lose now. They made no mistake and Conor Kehoe scored a fourth goal to embellish their victory against shell-shocked opponents whose challenge was dismantled in that final quarter.

Scorers for Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 0-9 (9fs), Chris Nolan 1-2 (1-sl), James Doyle 1-1, Fiachra Fitzpatrick 1-1, Conor Kehoe 1-1, Jon Nolan 0-2, Jack Treacy 0-1.

Scorers for Laois: Aaron Dunphy 0-9 (7fs), Ben Conroy 1-2, Stephen Maher 0-4 (1f), Jack Kelly 0-1, David Dooley 0-1.

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Jack McCullagh; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Ciaran Whelan; Jack Treacy, Marty Kavanagh, James Doyle; Donagh Murphy, Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan.

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, Aidan Corby; Aaron Dunphy, Jack Kelly, Ryan Mullaney; Ben Conroy, Martin Phelan, Tomas Keyes.

Subs: Stephen Maher for Phelan (HT), 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).