‘Today we were looking for that performance’ Jones

The Laois camogie team ensured their Division 2 safety on Saturday afternoon, digging deep to get the better of Carlow.

Laois had led by 10 points at one stage in the first half before Carlow closed the gap to within a single point with a minute to go. Joint-manager Rob Jones used the old cliché that it was a game of two halves. He also admitted they were looking for a strong performance against Carlow after a disappointing outing in Meath last week.

“It was definitely a game of two halves. Started off really well in the first half, got some great scores, well on top. We said it to them at half-time, this is not over yet. Carlow definitely brought it out in the second half. We probably lost our shape a bit in the second half too, but look it, in the last 10 minutes, they ground it out.

“Carlow got a goal from a long-range free, and it probably upset us a small bit, got a bit nervy. The girls, to be fair, in the forward line, the last 10 minutes, we got two great scores. We showed a bit of composure there. Eimear Hassett came on and made a bit of a difference; she stood up.

“We said we weren't really concentrating more on the win after last weekend. I thought last weekend we were more concentrated on the win, and we just didn't perform. Today, we were kind of looking for that performance. It wasn't perfect, but we got over the line, thank God,” he said.

Laois’ first half display was exceptional, scoring 2-7, with both goals assisted by Kirsten Keenan and resulting from precise ball into the forward players. Jones said much of the credit must also go to the Laois backs, who consistently won possession and delivered low balls, where Laois are most dangerous.

“For 30 minutes of the first half, to be fair, they could do nothing wrong. Anything they did, the ball they played into the forwards was exceptional, to be fair, to our half-back line. We didn't lose the ball coming out of our full-back line.

“We made the right decisions, gave it to the right person, that's what we always ask them. Send in low ball into our full-forward line, and that's where we're dangerous. It worked in the first half, second half, different story. That's down to Carlow, too, to be fair. They put in a serious effort in the second half; they closed us down, and we weren't ready for it. It took us 20 minutes to try and get to grips with it.

“That's something we're going to have to work on, as I said to the girls after the match, we just have to be more consistent. Just to make that step up. Again, the good teams like Carlow and Westmeath and all these teams in Division 2, you have to be more consistent through the whole game, and that's what we'll try and improve on,” Jones said.

The win on Saturday puts Laois on seven points, third in the standings, two behind Meath and three behind Kerry. They are still in contention for a place in the final, but it will depend on other results going their way.

“I think we were adding up the points there and stuff, and going through different matches there after today. I think that makes us safe now and there is a possibility that we could get to a final. Our goal at the start of the year was to try and stay up; that's what we've done. So look, we're happy with that. If it doesn't work out that we don't get to a final, so be it. We'll just have to prepare for the Leinster Championship, that's all we can do,” Jones concluded.