Laois footballers promotion hopes ended as Clare's splendid second-half sees them over the line

Laois' hopes of gaining promotion from this year's Division 3 of the Allianz Football Leagues have been dashed after a superb second-half of scoring from Clare got them over the line in Portlaoise.

The home side were cruising at half-time and led by six points, 1-13 to 1-7, but Clare outscored Laois 1-15 to 0-8 to record a four-point victory.

Clare 2-22

Laois 1-21

Clare got going from the get-go and scored almost immediately from the throw-in courtesy of Aaron Griffin. Laois eased themselves into the contest and their first score came after a patient piece of build-up saw Mark Barry open his account off his left-foot. From the resulting kick-out, Clare went down the other end and the Laois defence opened up, Griffin saw a gap and it ended with Roche picking the ball out of his net. Conor Heffernan caught a kick-out from Roche and played a one-two with Brian Byrne before splitting the posts. Eoin Cleary pointed to leave it 1-2 to 0-2 to Clare early on.

Laois were handed their next score as Pa Kirwan was tackled after catching a mark which meant that referee David Murnane brought the ball forward 50 metres. Roche came forward from the goals to kick the game's first two-pointer. Cleary (free) and Damon Larkin traded points with Ciaran Downes opening his account to push Clare two in front. 

Justin McNulty's side dominated for the next 13 minutes putting all kinds of pressure on the Clare kick-out after every score. Laois raised six white flags in that period with Clare remaining scoreless. Kevin Swayne put on the after-burners to split the posts while Barry tapped over a free. For that free, Laois could have had a goal but Eamon Tubridy denied Simon Fingleton from close range. Barry added to his account when Josh Hogan won a Clare kick-out and Barry scored again from the next kick-out as Heffernan rose highest to keep the pressure on Clare.

Niall Corbet got in on the act as he punted the ball over the bar with plenty of Clare players close by. Pa Kirwan was fouled which allowed Barry kick his fifth point of the half. Mark McInerney finally ended Clare's scoreless spell with a 45'. Ikem Ugweuru came forward to fist the ball between the posts as Laois led by five points as the game approached the half-hour mark. Barry and Corbet added a point each for McNulty's side with Downes scoring his second point for The Banner. 

The half ended with Laois raising a green flag as a Josh Hogan shot dropped short but Ronan Coffey was on hand to fist the ball past the Clare goalkeeper Eamon Tubridy. Laois went into the dressing rooms ahead, 1-13 to 1-7.

McInerney got Clare off the mark in the second-half with Josh Hogan following suit for Laois. Clare hit the next three scores without reply as Emmet McMahon scored all three, one from a free. Brian Byrne and Griffin traded frees before Roche came forward to kick another two-pointer free after Kevin Swayne was fouled after taking a mark which meant the ball was brought forward. Clare almost got in for a second goal only for a great interception from Pa Kirwan to deny Griffin at the back post.

McInerney kicked a 45' before McMahon added a free as Laois still led by three points. Barry took that advantage to four points with another free but the lead would be reduced to just a single point two minutes later as Alan Sweeney palmed the ball in at the back-post. Griffin drew the sides level with 10 minutes to play.

Conor Heffernan had a great game in the middle of the park as he kicked over a superb two-pointer but that ended up being Laois' final score of the contest as Clare finished with six points without reply. Griffin, Brian McNamara, Darragh Burns, Cleary (free) and two points from McMahon saw Clare leave Portlaoise with a precious two points. The defeat means that Laois' hopes of promotion out of Division 3 are now over. They face Fermanagh in the final game next weekend in Enniskillen.