'It wasn't perfect, but we got over the line, thank God'- Laois Camogie's Rob Jones

The Laois Camogie team confirmed their Division 2 survival on Saturday with a hard-fought win over Carlow, a match that tested their resolve until the final whistle.

After racing into a 10-point lead in the first half, Laois saw Carlow claw their way back, reducing the deficit to just a single point with only a minute remaining.

The dramatic swings on the scoreboard perfectly illustrated why joint-manager Rob Jones described it as 'a game of two halves.' He also noted that the team was aiming for a strong showing following a disappointing outing in Meath last weekend.

“It was definitely a game of two halves. Started off really well in the first half, got some great scores, well on top. We said it to them at half-time, this is not over yet. Carlow definitely brought it out in the second half. We probably lost our shape a bit in the second half too, but look it, in the last 10 minutes, they grinded it out. Carlow got a goal from a long-range free, and it probably upset us a small bit, got a bit nervy. The girls, to be fair, in the forward line, the last 10 minutes, we got two great scores. We showed a bit of composure there. Eimear Hassett came on and made a bit of a difference; she stood up. We said we weren't really concentrating more on the win after last weekend. I thought last weekend we were more concentrated on the win, and we just didn't perform. Today, we were kind of looking for that performance. It wasn't perfect, but we got over the line, thank God,” he said.

Laois’ first half performance was dominant, producing 2-7 with both goals set up by Camross' Kirsten Keenan. The precision in delivering balls to the forwards made all the difference, while the defensive unit ensured that possession was consistently regained and played into the areas where Laois are most dangerous.

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“30 minutes of the first half, to be fair, they could do nothing wrong. Anything they done, the ball they played into the forwards was exceptional, to be fair, to our half-back line. We didn't lose the ball coming out of our full-back line. We made the right decisions, gave it to the right person, that's what we always ask them. Send in low ball into our full-forward line, and that's where we're dangerous. It worked in the first half, second half, different story. That's down to Carlow, too, to be fair. They put in a serious effort in the second half; they closed us down, and we weren't ready for it. It took us 20 minutes to try and get to grips with it. That's something we're going to have to work on, as I said to the girls after the match, we just have to be more consistent. Just to make that step up. Again, the good teams like Carlow and Westmeath and all these teams in Division 2, you have to be more consistent through the whole game, and that's what we'll try and improve on,” Jones said.

The win moves Laois onto seven points, placing them third in the Division 2 standings, two behind Meath and three behind Kerry. A final spot is still mathematically possible, but it will require favourable results elsewhere.

“I think we were adding up the points there and stuff, and going through different matches there after today. I think that makes us safe now and there is a possibility that we could get to a final. Our goal at the start of the year was to try and stay up; that's what we've done. So look, we're happy with that. If it doesn't work out that we don't get to a final, so be it. We'll just have to prepare for the Leinster Championship, that's all we can do,” Jones concluded.