Portlaoise duo Larkin and Swayne grab second-half goals as Laois sink Carlow

Laois and Carlow have developed a bit of a rivalry over the years after several feisty meetings in Division 4 and Leinster Championship clashes. While Laois have dominated the fixture despite the competitive nature of it, Carlow fancied their chances heading to Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday evening.

Both outfits enjoyed one-hundred percent records heading into this one, so there was plenty at stake in this clash. Carlow looked up for the challenge in the first half and went five points clear after twenty-five minutes of the affair.

However, Laois finished the first-half strongly to only go in one-point down. There was only one winner then in the second-half, as goals from Portlaoise men Damon Larkin and Kevin Swayne ensured Laois kept the bragging rights in their matches with Carlow.

Laois 2-14

Carlow 0-9

A sizeable crowd descended into Laois Hire O’Moore Park for this clash, and it was the visitors who started the brighter. Carlow held most of the ball in the opening five minutes, with Colm Hulton getting them on the scoreboard for the evening.

Laois carved out chances during the opening quarter, but Carlow’s defence put them under pressure and that resulted in a few wides from the home side. It was Carlow who went two to the good when captain Darragh Foley fired over another.

The Carlow full-forward was a presence throughout and scored his second point straight after he got his first. Darragh Foley managed to claim a hopeful long ball inside from Colm Hulton and Foley floated over Carlow’s third.

Laois, on the other hand, were not as clinical as their counterparts and remained scoreless. They kicked five wides in the opening quarter, as the Laois crowd groaned in frustration at the missed opportunities.

Referee Anthony Nolan’s first big call came in the twentieth minute of the match. Laois centre-back Mark Timmons dragged Jordan Morrissey back en route to the goal but Anthony Nolan opted to not give the Laois defender a card.

Nevertheless, Foley tapped over Carlow’s fourth point from the resulting close-range free. Carlow added a fifth a few minutes later, as Conor Doyle’s short free was well secured by Jordan Morrissey, with the former DCU Sigerson Cup winner booted over.

It took twenty-four minutes, but Laois did finally register their opening score in front of their home crowd. Midfielder Damon Larkin, who has looked impressive in Laois’ opening two wins in this Division 4 campaign, ended the drought by thumping over.

 That score seemed to give Laois the confidence they desperately needed to kick on from there. Wing-back Brian Byrne got himself into a scoring situation soon after to curl over Laois’ second score.

Then it was centre-forward and Courtwood footballer, Niall Dunne, who came alive for the men wearing blue and white. Dunne scored two quick points on the trot, with his second particularly impressive as he had his back turned to goal but still managed to launch over.

Suddenly, the two teams were level when Laois keeper Killian Roche strode up the field and fired over a 45’. Roche had missed the first two chances from placed balls but showed character to swing this one over.

Carlow did re-take the lead before half-time thanks to a score from Conor Crowley. However, Justin McNulty and his management team went into the dressing room at the interval the far happier camp considering the circumstances.

Laois built on the confidence they showed in the first half to draw themselves level upon the restart. Wing-forward Shaun Fitzpatrick had been kept quiet in the first-half by Carlow but he came roaring into life at the start of the second-half.

Fitzpatrick fired over the equaliser from a distance before the same player gave Laois the lead for the first-time moments later. The Ballyroan Abbey man broke through the Carlow defence, and while he briefly lost possession, Fitzpatrick still managed to volley the ball over the bar.

Half-time substitute Paul Kingston kicked Laois two clear soon after and the home side continued to control proceedings after that. Mark Barry landed a point from a placed ball before Laois struck for the opening goal of the game.

Eoin Buggie played it into Damon Larkin on the run and the Portlaoise man drilled a shot low and hard past Carlow keeper Johnny Furey. Laois now enjoyed a six-point lead at this stage after things looked worrying early on in that first-half.

Carlow responded with their first point of the second-half through centre-back Conor Doyle. However, they could not stop the Laois momentum, as the home team continued to stretch further clear.

Mark Barry restored Laois’ six-point cushion thanks to another converted placed ball before keeper Killian Roche came up to float over one off the ground. Then Laois sealed the result when they scored their second goal of the contest.

Substitute Eoin Lowry played a very clever over-the-top ball into the path of Kevin Swayne. The wing-forward calmly made space before Swayne cracked a shot in off the post.

Darragh Foley replied for Carlow with a point but Laois continued to look the more threatening for that third goal. Carlow keeper Johnny Furey was caught out of his goals at one stage but Laois’ Conor Heffernan saw his shot blocked by the Carlow defence.

Killian Roche came up the field once more to strike over his third point of the match though from a placed ball. While Conor Crowley hit back for Carlow, it was Laois who finished this one in Portlaoise on top.

Mark Barry grabbed his first score from play to add to his two converted frees. Then substitute and St Joseph’s captain of last season, Brian Daly, put the finishing touches on proceedings by curling over the final score of the contest.

Laois ended eleven-point victors thanks to an utterly dominant second-half display. While Carlow gave them a bit of a scare in the first half, Laois showed their class during the course of the contest and keep their perfect record intact.