Carlow leave it late as Laois GAA hurlers relegated from Division 1B

Laois have been relegated from Divison 1B of the Allianz Hurling Leagues after a late show from Carlow saw Tom Mullally's side win by three points.

Laois had been ahead by a single point with four minutes to play but Carlow pointed four late scores to send Laois down.

Carlow 2-26

Laois 0-29

Laois were slow out of the traps with Carlow leading three points to no score after four minutes. Marty Kavanagh pointed the game's first score from a placed ball with 45 seconds on the clock. Evan Kealy and Jon Nolan opened their accounts before the returning PJ Scully raised Laois' first white flag on the seventh-minute mark. The sides would be level soon after as Jordan Walshe and Aaron Dunphy left the scores at three points apiece.

Dunphy took his tally to two after a great catch by Podge Delaney in defence set him up to point. Dunphy pushed Laois two points ahead with 11 minutes played. Carlow weren't behind for long as their next attack saw the ball end up in the back of the Laois net. Kavanagh's shot was saved by Cathal Dunne but Paddy Boland was on hand to tap the rebound into an empty net. Kavanagh (free) and Boland scored a point each to leave Carlow ahead by a goal.

The Laois number 10 Dunphy and Kavanagh (65') traded points before John Doyle and Ciaran Whelan pushed Carlow into a five-point lead. Three points followed for Tommy Fitzgerald's team courtesy of Mossy Keyes from a tight angle, Scully and a Dunphy free. Jon Nolan split the posts for the second time in the contest to maintain Carlow's goal advantage.

Mossy Keyes scored a second sublime point this time from the terrace side of the field with Dunphy pointing yet another free. More frees were traded from Kavanagh and Dunphy. Ted Joyce became the eighth Carlow player to score as he slotted the ball between the posts. Dunphy replied with a fifth free and his eighth point of the game. Carlow had a great chance to get a second goal but Dunne denied Chris Nolan when he was through on goals.

The half ended with Carlow ahead by two as Dunphy (free) pointed for Laois while Chris Nolan and Kavanagh (free) left Carlow ahead 1-13 to 0-14 at the break.

Kavanagh got the second-half's scoring underway with a free before Laois drew level with three scores unanswered. Dunphy pointed a free from his own 45' with Cormac Byrne and Aidan Corby raising white flags. Carlow replied with three scores of their own as Whelan and two points from Kavanagh including his first from play. Laois went ahead soon after with four points on the bounce. Two frees from Dunphy were followed with points from Corby and Walshe. 

James Doyle and Kavanagh (free) pushed Carlow in front yet again but Laois weren't going down without a fight. Scully, Mossy and Dunphy (free) pushed Laois ahead by one with sixteen minutes to play. Kavanagh's free and Joyce saw the lead swap hands again. Dunphy (free) and Fiachra C-Fennell pointed for Laois before Kavanagh raised another white flag from a free. Dunphy tapped over another two scores to push Laois two points ahead with 62 minutes played.

Laois' lead was wiped out with the next attack as Joyce rattled the back of the Laois net. Dunphy pointed to push Laois one ahead with four minutes to play but that's as good as it got for Laois as Carlow finished with four points without reply to relegate Laois.

Tommy Fitzgerald's side host Dublin next weekend in what will be a nothing game.