Allianz Football League Division Two

LAOIS 1-12 CLARE 1-11

By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park, Ennis

Laois bounced back to winning ways in Division 2 after relievedly holding on for a minimum win over Clare in Ennis this afternoon. Having seen an eight point cushion slashed to just one by the 65th minute, the pendulum of momentum appeared to be swinging away from the Leinster side but they dug deep to inflict a second one point defeat of the campaign on their heartbroken hosts.

David Tubridy's late penalty had given Clare a lifeline but their shooting profligacy eventually came back to haunt them as two injury-time frees drifted wide to deny Colm Collins' side a dramatic share of the spoils.

Indeed, having kicked 12 wides over the 70 minutes, Clare's inefficiency in front of the posts was in contrast to a much more economical Laois who laid the foundations for victory in a dominant opening half display with the aid of the slight conditions.

Evan O'Carroll's early three point haul build up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead by the turn of the opening quarter before a scrappy goal doubled the gap in the 21st minute. It stemmed from a Damien O'Connor delivery over the top to Evan O'Carroll who was initially denied by goalkeeper Stephen Ryan before Colm Murphy's momentum on the rebound saw the ball unconventionally cross the line.

Inspired by that score, the visitors upped the ante through Eoin Lowry and Ross Munnelly to ease eight clear by the half hour mark. So while Eoin Cleary and David Tubridy did lessen the damage to six by the break at 1-8 to 0-5, in truth half-time couldn't come soon enough for an out-of-sorts Banner.

Captain Cleary and Tubridy did maintain that push on the restart with a brace of points each to leave only three between the sides entering the final quarter at 1-9 to 0-9. And Laois' luck appeared to be fading rapidly as Sean Byrne saw a blistering shot canon off the underside of the crossbar before the ever-reliable Ross Munnelly finally ended their 24 minute barren period with timely back-to-back points entering the final ten minutes at 1-11 to 0-09.

Clare never dropped their heads though and after Cathal O'Connor hit back with an immediate point, a footblock on an Eoin Cleary attempt earned a 65th penalty that David Tubridy rifled to the top right corner of the net to cut the deficit to just one.

An anxious finale inevitably ensued, with Niall Corbet and Eoin Cleary swapping placed balls. However, despite six minutes of additional time, Clare just couldn't grab that elusive equalising score as Laois clung defiantly to all two vital points.

Scorers for Laois: Colm Murphy 1-2, Ross Munnelly 0-4 (2fs), Evan O'Carroll 0-3 (1f, 1m), Eoin Lowry (0-2), Niall Corbett 0-1 (1'45)

Scorers for Clare: David Tubridy 1-4 (1-0 Pen, 3fs, 1 45); Eoin Cleary 0-4 (1f, 1'45); Gearoid O'Brien, Pearse Lillis, Cathal O'Connor 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Niall Corbet; Cahir Healy, Mark Timmons, Gearoid Hanrahan; Paddy O’Sullivan, Robbie Pigott, Trevor Collins; John O’Loughlin, Kieran Lillis; Damien O'Connor, Eoin Lowry, Sean Byrne; Ross Munnelly, Colm Murphy, Evan O’Carroll.

Subs: Brian Byrne for Pigott (12-20, Blood Sub), Byrne for Healy (26, inj), Michael Keogh for O'Connor (49), Benny Carroll for Byrne (51), Mark Barry for Murphy (62).

CLARE: Stephen Ryan; Kevin Harnett, Cillian Brennan, Gordon Kelly; Pearse Lillis, Sean Collins, Alan Sweeney; Dale Masterson, Cathal O’Connor; Dermot Coughlan, Keelan Sexton, Cian O’Dea; Eoin Cleary, David Tubridy, Gearoid O’Brien.

Subs: Eamonn Tubridy for Ryan (24, inj), Cormac Murray for O'Brien (Half-Time), Emmet McMahon for Masterson (Half-Time), Joe McGann for Sexton (56 mins), Eoghan Collins for Harnett (63).

REFEREE: Liam Devenney (Mayo).