Munnelly steps in to point Laois in winning direction
LAOIS made light of the absence of top scorer Gary Walsh by claiming League silverware at Croke Park yesterday.
Walsh, who scored 4-41 for Laois in this year’s Division 4 campaign, was at the centre of a social media storm during the week and was replaced by Ross Munnelly.
Veteran Munnelly, 35, proved an adequate stand-in as he kicked four points and laid on scores for the excellent Donie Kingston and Kieran Lillis.
Kingston finished with five points while goalkeeper Graham Brody was named man of the match as he denied Carlow the goal they craved to challenge for glory.
Laois beat Carlow by a point last weekend in Round 7 so they knew they’d be in for a difficult contest against a counter-attacking outfit.
Laois got a great start and led 0-5 to 0-0 before Carlow finally got a point through Darragh Foley in the 17th minute.
Foley got a second point late in the half but with Munnelly pulling the strings and Kingston scoring routinely, the O’Moore men were 0-10 to 0-5 to the good at half-time.
Carlow twice got their arrears down to three points in the second half but were unable to get closer.
They needed a goal that never arrived while experienced free-taker Paul Broderick missed a couple of routine frees.