Second half surge overturns nine point deficit and sends Laois marching on

Laois 3-17 

Carlow 2-17 

THE Laois U/20 football team has come to life after they pulled off a dramatic win over neighbours, Carlow on Wednesday evening in Laois Hire O’Moore Park, their first victory this season. Two fantastic scoring sprees in the second half saw Laois get over the line in the end having been nine points down earlier in the game.

Both sides came into the game having suffered defeated to Meath and Longford meaning neither could advance and this game was essentially a dead rubber in terms of the Leinster Championship, but it ended up turning into the start of the second-tier competition, the Andrew Corden Cup.

Daniel Bolger and Ultan Dunne exchanged points to get the game underway before Dylan Murphy found the back of the Carlow net with his soccer style effort sailing past the oncoming Conal McGuire. Mark Buggy pointed on a double while Dunne added his a second to his name.

Callum Crawford raised a white flag for the away side with Ennae Byrne replying from a placed ball alongside a fisted score from Paddy Fitzpatrick. Carlow dominated the second quarter and added seven points to their board in only five minutes.

The Knockbeg forward Eoin Ryan fired over a two pointer before Fiach Byrne replicated him. Buggy then pointed a free quickly along with a third two pointer for the visitors. A much-needed score for Laois through Byrne but Carlow raised a green flag in the following passage of play that saw Jamie Coakley get on the end of an admirably fast counterattack after Laois lost a kick out.

Carlow managed to get in for another goal opportunity, but Cathal Tierney denied Crawford fisted effort. Laois charged up field and David Donoghue shot for goal, but his effort breezed across the front of goal failing to find the target. Buggy pointed the final score of the half giving his side a seven-point cushion at the break, 1-12 to 1-5.

Ryan kicked his second score of the game to get the half underway while Fiach Byrne and Ennae Byrne traded scores after four minutes of play. Darren Brennan then sailed a two-point free over the bar which was the start of Laois’s purple patch as from here they went on to kick a further four points in a row courtesy of Donoghue, Byrne (free), Oisin Hade, and a third for Dunne.

Carlow put a halt to Laois’s scoring spree momentarily when Ryan Donnelly-Finn raised a white flag, but Brennan then broke down a Laois kick out and played a one-two with Fitzpatrick before nailing the back of McGuire’s net. Dunne and Donoghue both split the posts to push Laois two points ahead entering the final ten minutes.

Tom O’Connell pulled off a crucial block in the Laois defence which would have brought the game level. The home side broke away rapidly and Dunne fed a perfect ball into Byrne who placed the ball into the net raising a third green flag for Laois. Dunne and Buggy both pointed for their respective sides while O’Connor and Coakley (free) traded scores.

It was all or nothing for Carlow as every opportunity was a goal scoring attempt. A shot from Coakley bounced off the bar and on the head of Dan Boland which ended up in the back of the net setting up a nervy ending with only a goal between the sides. Oran O’Boyle had the opportunity to bring the contest level but much to the delight of Laois, his effort was drilled wide meaning Laois will advance to the semi-final stages of the Andrew Corden Cup.

SCORERs:

Laois: Ennae Byrne 1-4 (0-2fs), Ultan Dunne 0-5, Darren Brennan 1-2 (1 tpf), Dylan Murphy 1-0, David Donoghue and Ben O’Connor 0-2 each, Oisin Hade and Paddy Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

Carlow: Jamie Coakley 2-1 (0-1f), Mark Buggy 0-7 (0-1f, 1 tp), Eoin Ryan (1 tp) and Fiach Byrne (1 tp) 0-3 each, Daniel Bolger, Callum Crawford, and Ryan Donnelly-Finn 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Cathal Tierney (Park Ratheniska); Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard); Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Danny McGrath (Graiguecullen), Cathal Buggie (Stradbally); Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise); Paddy Fitzpatrick (The Heath), David Donohue (Stradbally), Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s); Dylan Murphy (Graiguecullen), Ennae Byrne (Arles Killeen), Ultan Dunne (O’Dempsey’s).

Subs: Tom O'Connell (Mountmellick) for O'Sullivan (39m), Oisin Hade (Mountmellick) for Julian (39m), Conor O'Callaghan (Portlaoise) for Murphy (39m), Cormac Deegan (Annanough) for Dunne (61m), Eli Colbert (The Rock) for Donohue (61m).

CARLOW: Conal McGuire; Ryan Donnelly-Finn, Ross Moran, Daire Byrne; Daniel Bolger, Eoin Myers, Lorcan O’Connor; Ben Curry, Callum Crawford; Fiach Byrne, Ian Cradock, Marc Mulhall; Mark Buggy, Jamie Coakley, Eoin Ryan.

Subs: Rory McCaffrey for F Byrne (45m), Jacob Curran for Cradock (52m), Oran O'Boyle for Crawford (52m), Ryan Fitzgerald for O'Connor (54m).

Referee: Enda Kelly (Westmeath)