When Carlow stunned Laois 31 years ago
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BELOW is a report of the thrilling meeting of the Barrowside neighbours in the Leinster championship in 1964. The sides met for the first time in the National Hurling League five years previous in Athy. They were not to meet again in NHL for 20 years and again it was Carlow who prevailed.
Nowlan Park hosted this game all of 61 years ago and Carlow were underdogs. Laois had swept all before them in the league but Carlow were a different proposition come championship. Laois suffered a blow before the game when Jimmy Holohan of the Faughs was injured and was replaced by Paddy Creagh a fellow club man.
Carlow were All-Ireland Intermediate champions having overcome London who lined out Portlaoise and Laois man Billy Dargan.
Peter McGovern opened the scoring for Carlow. Jack Conroy of Clonad equalised for the O’Moore side. Jim McCarthy levelled matters for Carlow after Laois had added a second point by Paddy Bates.
Laois went in front when Tom Drennan lofted a free into the square and John Fitzpatrick of Kilcotton finished past the Carlow keeper. Liamy Walsh then saw a point blank effort saved by Jimmy Fennell in the Laois goal.
Laois were getting to grips with their opponents as Jimmy Lyons and Liamy Walsh swapped points after 20 minutes.
Carlow went in back front when Peter McGovern set up Willie Hogan who beat the Laois keeper from close range. Moling Morrissey, later to wear the colours of Clonaslee, set up Jimmy McCarthy who beat the Laois keeper with a powerful shot.
Carlow were dictating matters now and when McGovern won possession he rifled high into the Laois net and now Laois were in real bother at half time when Carlow were ahead 3-7 to 1-3.
Laois made positional changes and it worked. Paddy Bates picked off two great points from midfield. Brendan Hayden denied Laois a goal chance on a few occasions. Sean Cashin pointed a 70 approaching the final quarter.
After Laois were again denied a goal, a chance fell to Carlow’s Willie Hogan and he hammered past the Clonad net minder.
Laois refused to give up Paddy Bates pointed before late in the game a great Laois move was completed when the very skilful Timmy Maher of Faughs, Cappamore/ Clonad and Portlaoise, finally beat the Carlow net minder Brendan Hayden.
Too late to make any real difference and it was Carlow who progressed to the next round of the Leinster championship.
Brendan Hayden; Martin Hogan, Pat Somers, Tony Fortune; Peter McGovern (0-1), Ned Gladney, Willie (Town) Walsh; Moling Morrissey, Pat O’Connell (0-1); ‘Red’ Liamy Walsh (0-6), Pat Brophy (1-1), Dick Hickey; Jimmy McCarthy (1-2), Willie Hogan (2-1), Jim Hickey.
: Jimmy Fennell (Clonad); Tim Cuddy (Camross), Christy O’Brien (Borris-in-Ossory), Fintan Kealy (Borris-in-Ossory); Paddy O’Mahoney (Cullohill), Paddy Creagh (Rathdowney), Tom Drennan (Cullohill); Jimmy Lyons (Camross 0-1), Ollie Fennell (Clonad); John Bolger (St Canice’s), Rody Campion (Rathdowney 0-1), Paddy Bates (Clonaslee 0-6); John Fitzpatrick (Kilcotton), Jack Conroy (Clonad 0-1), Timmy Maher (Faughs 1-0).
Subs: Sean Cashin (St Canice’s 0-1) for Creagh, Pat Mahon (Rathdowney) for Bolger.
Paddy Johnston (Kilkenny)
