Classy Carlow cut loose on Laois to continue fine League form

Allianz NHL Div 2A Round 3

Carlow 1-23
Laois 0-21

The bragging rights, and more importantly, a giant step towards next year's revamped Division 1 Hurling were at stake Saturday evening in Laois Hire O 'Moore Park.

With 100% records on the line, the journey home through Timahoe and The Swan a tad nicer with both points in the bag. Away wins to Kerry and Laois the equivalent of going to Paris and Twickenham in the 6 Nations.

Carlow being the better team once a 3-point first-half deficit was turned full circle, with Scott Treacy's (vindicating his late inclusion) goal in the 22nd minute proving decisive. Chris Nolan's brilliant catch and run from Kevin McDonald's pass opened up the Laois rearguard.

Picky Maher got the scoreboard going on 4 minutes. This after a scrappy start where the supply to both forward lines suited defenders more. Scott Treacy soon levelling matters. Jer Quinlan and Conor Kehoe traded scores in the 7th minute before Aidan Corby and Tom Cuddy had Laois 0-4 to 0-2 to the good before John Michael Nolan notched a cracker.

Picky Maher with a pair of frees (the 2nd for a Kevin Mc handpass that he was quite adamant was legit!) gave Laois what would be their biggest lead of the evening at 0-6 to 0-3 on 14 minutes. Marty Kavanagh (f) and James Doyle soon had it back to the minimum with Carlow now winning most of the battles.

David Dooley would get the next couple for the hosts but in between the real damage was done, the 1-4 without reply courtesy of a pair of placed balls from Marty also John Michael's 2nd and the aforementioned goal thrown in.

1-8 to 0-8 on 26 minutes, Marty and Chris sharing their remaining scores equally with 2 each before the break. Marty off the floor, Chris off the cuff. Laois were hanging on at this stage with scores from Aaron Dunphy, a trademark Enda Rowland rocket launcher of a free from distance and in added time Martin Phelan from a delayed Carlow clearance with his shot just about clearing the crossbar, leaving Carlow 1-12 to 0-11 to the good at the break.

Referee Colm McDonald had scarcely started his stopwatch but Chris Nolan had added to his tally, the resultant puckout gladly finding Fiachra Fitzpatrick who duly pointed, his on looking granduncle and former Carlow/Laois great Moling Morrissey no doubt impressed.

Paddy Purcell, quiet by his standards, replied on 40 minutes but not before Dion Wall had made a great block and Ciaran Abbey saving well from Picky Maher.

Chris and Marty replied with a point apiece before Kevin Mc's effort fresh from his double POTY Nationalist Award wins the night previous.

All this after somehow two rasping goal-bound efforts from Marty were kept out, the impressive Ryan Mullaney with the latter.

Another Marty free following great work from Fiach O'Toole and Jack McCullagh made it 1-18 to 0-12, the gap out to 10 points at one stage soon. It was understandable that Laois would have a purple patch, mostly from placed balls though with Maher and Rowland securing the next 5 Laois scores.

John Michael then with his 3rd of the game and points 9 and 10 from Marty had us at 1-22 to 0-18. Purcell replied on 65 and 66 minutes with a brace from the sideline before a mad scramble in the Carlow goalmouth to the relieve of the travelling support saw the referee throw in the ball on the 21.

Fiachra Fitzpatrick with a relieving 2nd point of the night gave Carlow breathing space with Purcell's 4th of the half in the 75th minute in reply the last score.

1-23 to 0-21 the final score. Jack McCullagh's pass to John Michael, John Michael's point, Chris's catch for the goal, Mouse's deadly accuracy, the savage work rate, all highlights for Carlow who were worthy winners, although a possible rematch later by the league's conclusion is a distinct possibility.

Carlow: Ciaran Abbey, Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Conor Lawlor, Tony Lawlor, Kevin McDonald (0-1), Jack McCullagh, Fiach O'Toole, James Doyle (0-1), Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-2), JM Nolan (0-3), Chris Nolan (0-4), Conor Kehoe (0-1), Marty Kavanagh (0-10f), Scott Treacy (1-1).
Subs: Jon Nolan, Jake Doyle, Ciaran Kavanagh.

Laois: Enda Rowland (0-2f), Ian Shanahan, Liam O Connell, Diarmaid Conway, Gearoid Lynch, Padraig Delaney, Ryan Mullaney, Tom Cuddy (0-1), Paddy Purcell (0-4), Martin Phelan (0-1), Stephen Maher (0-8, 0-7f, 0-1 65), David Dooley (0-2), Jer Quinlan (0-1), Aaron Dunphy (0-1), Aidan Corby (0-1).
Subs: Tomas Keyes, John Lennon, Willie Dunphy.

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)