LAOIS 3-13 DIT 2-14 (AET)
LAOIS hurlers are through to a meeting with Dublin, the holders, as the result of an extra time victory over DIT at a bitterly cold Rathdowney on Saturday last, in what was the first game for the home side since that awful defeat to Cork in last year’s qualifiers.
Supporters once again stayed away not convinced that even a new manager can change things in a short time and less than one hundred paid into watch an entertaining contest in which the strong breeze played a huge part in the outcome.
The visitors arrived in Rathdowney in search of victory and when they won the toss got what they would have preferred because a good start would be important.
But it was the home team that got the dream start within minutes after a sloppy start by the visitors’ defence Willie Dunphy pulled first time and gave the keeper no chance. The McCarthy era was off to the perfect start.
However, the lead was short lived and from the puck out the students pounded the Laois defence and when the full forward Aodan McInerney got through he gave Eoin Reilly no chance from close range.
Two minutes later the same player repeated the feat and although surrounded by defenders found a space to hammer past the Laois custodian.
Such was the ease with which the goals were scored one feared for the outcome. Kilkenny man Padraig Phelan added a point from a free.
But after being under pressure for ten minutes Laois broke away and Dayne Peacock squeezed the ball inside the right post for a good point.
The students dominated the next ten minutes and extended their lead with three good points by Pat Hartley and Padraig Phelan before an unfortunate clash between Brian Stapleton and the visitors full forward saw the referee award a free in but Brian Stapleton was forced to retire with a knee injury and Padraig Phelan extended the lead from the resultant free.
The closing six minutes saw the visitors increase their advantage with points by Phelan, Dean Curran and midfielder Ciaran O’Shaughnessy.
Willie Hyland, from a free, and substitute Mark Schutte exchanged points leaving the visitors in front 2-8 to 2-2 but would it be enough facing a gale force wind.
The new half was ten minutes old before Hyland opened the Laois account from a free but the visitor’s number fourteen had pointed within two minutes of the resumption. Laois suddenly found a bit of form that yielded two good points by David O’Mahoney.
He then set up McEvoy for a third and when Hyland added his second only a goal separated the sides.
Niall Quinn replied at the other end but after Laois hit some dreadful wides came the first controversy as Laois went in search of a goal.
A great ball in from Willie Dunphy was batted out but James Walsh missed a golden opportunity when he missed a short clearance.
But when the defence failed to clear Tommy Fitzgerald rose high to bat the ball past a wall of defenders.
The students protested but after consulting with his umpires the goal was allowed to stand by the over fussy referee.
Attempts to find the equaliser was difficult as Laois hit wide after wide.
Then with five minutes remaining Willie Hyland was given his marching orders after an altercation with the student’s keeper.
In injury time Matthew Whelan delivered a great equaliser and extra time was ordered.
This time Laois won the toss and after Padraig Phelan gave the visitors the lead Neil Foyle, a replacement for Brian Guilfoyle, pointed twice in as many minutes.
Brian Campion, another substitute, delivered a huge point from a free but Ciaran O’Shaughnessy got one back before the change of ends.
On the resumption Dunphy sent over two great points and although Phelan replied, the visitors lost Quinn on a second yellow and Laois clung on for a hard earned victory and a visit from the league champions this coming weekend.