Laois withstand rally

LAOIS looked to be coasting in the second half of this Leinster round robin match in Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday but they had to hang on for dear life as Carlow almost snatched a draw which looked beyond them. It was a tightly-fought opening half with four points from Zane Keenan helping Laois into a 0-7 to 0-5 interval lead. They came out all guns blazing in the second half and a further point by Keenan stretched their lead. When he stood over a 25m free, everyone presumed he would settle for a point and while his fiercely struck shot was saved by Kevin Kehoe, substitute Ben Conroy was on hand to force the ball over the line. Carlow looked to be crumbling and with 17 minutes left, they trailed by ten points. Gradually they clawed their way back into the game and with time almost up, Kavanagh set up Eddie Byrne for a goal to leave only three points between the sides. In injury-time, a Kavanagh free was delivered in around the house but it was Enda Rowland who plucked a dangerous ball out of the air and Laois were relieved to hear the full-time whistle.

LAOIS: E Rowland; J Delaney, C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, J Campion; Z Kane, P Purcell; PJ Scully (B Conroy h-t), S Maher (P Whelan 62), C Dwyer; R King, W Hyland, T Fitzgerald.

Scorers: Z Keenan 0-10 (8fs), B Conroy 1-3, C Dwyer 0-2, S Maher, PJ Scully 0-1. Wides: 15 (10). Frees: 21 (10).

Yellow cards: J Campion. CARLOW: K Kehoe; S Kavanagh, J Rogers, A Corcoran; R Coady, D English, E Coady; D Byrne, C Wall (M Brennan 49); J M Nolan, E Byrne, J Kavanagh (G Coady 64); S Murphy, Séamus Murphy (P Coady 43), M Kavanagh.

Scorers: M Kavanagh 0-6fs, E Byrne 1-1, J Kavanagh 0-2, D Byrne 0-2 (1sc), D English 0-2fs, S Murphy 0-1.

Wides: 6 (5), Frees: 21 (10). Yellow Cards: R Coady, D Byrne, J Kavanagh.

Referee: D Kirwan (Offaly).