Laois U-20's leave it late against Roscommon to salvage a draw

Following a strong display last week against a highly-fancied Cork outfit, the Laois U-20 footballers returned back to Portlaoise for round two of the John Kerins Cup. They met Roscommon in the LOETB Centre of Excellence, a team who had reached the All-Ireland Minor final two years ago.

Laois looked in control of proceedings at the break after a strong defensive performance from Seán O’Shea’s troops. However, Roscommon made several changes that swung the game in their momentum in the second half, only for Shaun Fitzpatrick to rescue a point for Laois with the last kick of a ball.

Laois 0-8

Roscommon 0-8

Roscommon played with the elements of a decent breeze in the first half and they attacked Laois in numbers during the opening stages. However, a mixture of disciplined and organised Laois defending as well as some poor Roscommon shooting meant the away team failed to build up any sort of a lead.

It would take ten minutes for the first score of the match to arrive. Laois managed to bag a point very much against the run of play, with Jonah Kelly curling over an effort for Laois in one of their first forays forward.

Laois then almost grabbed an early goal as well. Oisín Hooney booted a ball that caught the Roscommon defence out and landed in Colin Dunne’s grasp. It looked like Dunne was about to bury a goal, but Roscommon managed to put enough pressure on him at the last split-second and the ball trickled harmlessly wide.

That miss didn’t stop Laois from further building on their advantage though. Midfielder Cormac Murphy kicked in a nice ball into Dunne again, and this time the Arles-Killeen sharpshooter fired over the bar for a point. Murphy had a shot soon after that dropped short of the goal but full-forward Jack Byrne was there to skilfully flick the ball onto the crossbar and over.

Laois led by three points now, as they continued to frustrate Roscommon with their tackling and workrate. Roscommon did manage to register their first score though after sixteen minutes of play, as Bobby Nugent stepped up to curl over a free with the outside of his boot.

Five minutes later and Roscommon cut the deficit to the minimum. Full-forward Eoin Colleran curled over the Rossies first point from play. However, Laois we’re on top for the final ten minutes of the first half to go in with a half-time advantage.

Shaun Fitzpatrick, who a livewire at wing-forward with his excellent workrate, found the target with a point after Fitzpatrick played a one-two with Colin Dunne. The Arles-Killeen native went from provider to scoren then as he placed over a free.

The Laois defence remained compact and resolute for the remainder of the first half, with captain Ben Dempsey leading from full-back. Laois grabbed the final score of the half, as Shaun Fitzpatrick fired a sublime crossfield pass into the arms of Dunne. He took the mark and notched over the point, as Laois held a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at half-time in Portlaoise.

Roscommon made four changes at half-time and they began to pay dividends from the start of the second half, as there was a noticeable change in the pace of their attacks. Bobby Nugent curled over the first score of the second half for them, with Eoin Colleran kicking over a free soon after to halve the deficit.

Laois worked another goal chance after that, with Shaun Fitzpatrick at the heart of the move again. Fitzpatrick fired a quick and accurate pass into the hands of Dunne. He looked like he was going to bury it once more but again Roscommon denied Dunne, with James Brady blocking him brilliantly.

Roscommon left just one point between them after fourth minutes of football, with Eoin Colleran kicking his third score from a placed ball. Laois again looked to work a goal chance down the other end, with Oisín Hooney throwing a dummy before putting in Ben Reddin. However, Reddin couldn’t turn in time to get a shot off and the chance was gone.

Ballyroan-Abbey man Davin McEvoy was introduced off the bench for Laois in the second half and he made a massive impact. McEvoy pushed Laois’ lead out to two points after he started a move and finished it, as Laois grabbed their first score of the second half fifteen minutes in.

Roscommon were on top now though and finished the match strongly. Bobby Nugent, substitute Declan Kenny and Eoin Colleran (free) all raised white flags for the away side as they enjoyed a one-point lead heading into the final five minutes of normal time.

It appeared Laois were running out of time and ideas. However, in stoppage time they managed to work one last chance out to Shaun Fitzpatrick. The opportunity fell to the right man as well, as Fitzpatrick coolly curled over the equaliser to help Laois secure another draw in the John Kerins Cup.