14-man Laois have to make do with a draw after late Carlow penalty

Laois had to settle for a share of the spoils in Netwatch Cullen Park this afternoon as a late Martin Kavanagh penalty for Carlow ensured the sides would leave the pitch level.

The big turning point was the sending-off of Fiachra C Fennell as the Rosenallis man was sent off for two bookable offences.

Laois 1-22

Carlow 1-22

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 3

Carlow started the game with intent as they scored directly from throw-in. James Doyle setting up Jack Kavanagh to split the posts. Laois replied almost instantly as James Keyes pointed a delightful side-line. 

Martin Kavanagh got his first of the contest as he pointed a free before Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher got his first from play after a super pass from Ryan Mullaney.

Martin Kavanagh traded another score with Picky as the sides were locked level early on. Laois hit the front soon after as they raised three white flags without reply. Stephen Bergin, Ross King and Martin Phelan all pointing over the black spot.

Martin Kavanagh tapped over his third free before Picky and King got two more scores for Laois. King would soon get his third of the contest while Martin Kavanagh pointed a 65’ for Carlow.

The next Carlow score came as a result of a slack pass from Mullaney as he gifted the ball to Jack Kavanagh to raise a white flag for the home side. Laois would hit another purple patch as they pointed three times unanswered. Picky pointed a free while King got his fourth point from play.  Aidan Corby pushed Laois six points ahead as they led 0-12 to 0-6.

Carlow would react well to the Laois pressure as they spilt the posts three times without reply. Martin Kavanagh pointed a free and from play while midfielder Conor Kehoe also raised a white flag. 

Laois’ next score was well-worked as Bergin won the ball in the corner before a cross-field pass to Paddy Purcell with the Rathdowney-Errill man raising a white flag. Carlow would soon make it a one-point game as Chris Nolan pointed his first score while Martin Kavanagh got his seventh and eighth points of the game.

Laois would go two points ahead at the break as Corby found Picky to split the posts for Willie Maher’s men. For all the hurling played in the first-half, Laois should and could have been much further ahead.

Carlow started the second-half the same way they had the first as after 30 seconds James Doyle made it a one-point game. Laois would look the put the game beyond Carlow as they fired in 1-3 without any Carlow resistance.

Phelan got his second of the game while Enda Rowland and Picky both pointed frees. The Laois goal came from a Carlow mistake as Paddy Purcell found Bergin to tap into an empty net as they now led by seven.

Jack Kavanagh and Picky (free) both raised white flags before Carlow would score six points as Laois failed to score in a 20-minute period. Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan, James Doyle and three frees form Martin Kavanagh put one point between the sides. 

Laois would also be reduced to 14 men as Fiachra C Fennell would receive his marching orders for a second yellow card. Carlow levelled the game in the 60th minute as Martin Kavanagh scored his 11th point of the contest. 

Picky and Martin Kavanagh (free) made it a tense last few minutes as both sides went in search of the winner. Laois would go ahead yet again as they fired over three scores. Picky pointing twice from play while Rowland pointed his second free. 

The game would end level as Carlow were awarded a penalty in the 74th minute. Martin Kavanagh stepped up and buried the ball into the Laois net to secure a point for Carlow.

Laois have a week break before playing Kildare at home with a trip to Tralee against Kerry in the final group game.