Hulton goal proves decisive as Carlow edge out Laois
Laois's Cian Nolan makes a determined bid to get past this Carlow defender on Saturday Photo: Paul Dargan
CARLOW booked their place in the O’Byrne Shield final at the expense of Laois after edging them out by three points in an entertaining and hard-fought encounter which took place in Rathvilly GAA on Saturday afternoon. In a game that swung with momentum throughout, the home side finished strongly to deny Laois a late comeback and secure the victory.
Both sides showed plenty of attacking intent from the outset, serving up a contest that featured fine scores, defensive grit, and no shortage of drama. Laois struck for crucial goals at key moments, but Carlow’s ability to finish the stronger in the closing stages proved decisive and Laois were left to reflect ahead of their upcoming league campaign.
Matthew Byron kicked the opening score of the game when he raised a white flag from a 45. Carlow then went on to add six points in a row to the scoreboard. Tadgh Roche pointed the first while Sean Murphy and Paddy McDonnell were next. Conor Doyle the fired over a two pointer with Conor Crowley pointing a free after Laois broke the 3-men up rule.
Laois began to find some rhythm and Alan Kinsella found the net, what was a well worked score after an initial shot from Niall Corbet was saved. Cian Nolan followed up and split the posts while Paul Kingston pointed a free. Carlow broke up the pitch at pace and Ross Dunphy nailed the back of Byron’s net. McDonnell the followed-up fisting over the bar to the home side four points ahead.
Corbet kicked a fine score while Doyle replied for Carlow keeping the gap at four. Laois attacked in the final minutes of the half going in search of one final score before the break and a foul on Ciaran Burke allowed Byron step up and kick a two-point free leaving only two between the sides at halftime.
The home side pointed the first two scoring of the second half courtesy of Colm Hulton and Mikey Bambrick. Darren Brennan was on hand to save his side when he cleared an effort off the line. Cian Nolan played a clever one-two with Aaron McEvoy but was then pulled down in the square and awarded a penalty which Paul Kingston stepped up and coolly slot away.
With the momentum under their belts, Laois went on to raise a third green flag only a minute later when a shot from Darragh Galvin was blocked but landed perfectly into Kinsellas arms who added to first half goal. Dunphy and Jake Darcy traded points while Nolan pointed his second of the game.
Carlow then hit the ground running and put 1-3 past the Laois defence in the space of three minutes. Hulton added a second point to his name while Doyle added a second two-pointer to his before Hulton charged through the heart of the defence and rattled the back of Byron’s net which pushed Carlow three points clear with only a matter of minutes to play. Nolan pointed his third of the game with hopes Laois would win the kickout and get a two-pointer to draw or a goal to win the game but unfortunately Carlow won their own kickout.
Shane Clarke then went on to fire over the insurance point seeing his take claim a three-point victory and advance. Laois also ended the game with 14 men when Darcy was shown a red card for a tussle with Bambrick where despite the jersey being pulled off Darcy and fired across the fence, only one man saw red.
Laois now have two weeks to prepare for their first-round league game against Limerick on Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday 24 January.
SCORERS:
Carlow: Colm Hulton 1-2, Conor Doyle 0-5 (2tps), Ross Dunphy 1-1, Paddy McDonnell 0-2, Tadgh Roche, Shane Clarke, Mikey Bambrick, Sean Murphy and Conor Crowley (f) 0-1 each.
Laois: Alan Kinsella 2-0, Paul Kingston 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), Matthew Byron (1tpf, 0-1f) and Cian Nolan 0-3 each, Jake Darcy and Niall Corbet 0-1 each.
CARLOW: Harry Clarke; Paddy McDonnell, Colin Byrne, Lee Moore; Tadgh Roche, Dara Curran, Padraig Bolger; Adam Burgess, Mark Furey; Ross Dunphy, Conor Doyle, Mikey Bambrick; Colm Hulton, Sean Murphy, Conor Crowley. Subs: Shane Clarke for Furey (19m, inj), Jamie Clarke for Murphy (33m), Cian Cashman for Byrne (41m), Liam Gavin for Crowley (53m), Evan Corr for Dunphy (60m).
LAOIS: Matthew Byron (Courtwood); Eoin Montague (Emo), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Alex Moran (Courtwood); Eoghan Slattery (Courtwood), Liam Knowles (Stradbally), Joey Shelley (Rosenallis); Ciaran Burke (Crettyard), Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s); Cian Nolan (Park/Ratheniska), Niall Corbet (Clonaslee/St Manman’s), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise); Alan Kinsella (Courtwood), Cathal Lee (Clonaslee St Manman’s), Paul Kingston (Arles Killeen).
Subs: Aaron McEvoy (Ballyroan Abbey) for Shelly (ht), Darragh Galvin (Portarlington) for Lee (ht), Jake Darcy (Annanough) for Boland (43m), Cian Ryle (Kilcavan) for Kinsella (43m), Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise) for Montague (58m).
Referee: Darragh Byrne (Wicklow)
