Carlow U20s denied by late equaliser
Liam Gavin top scored for the Carlow U20 footballers in the draw against Laois Photo: Pat Ahern
Carlow’s hopes of ending the under 20 football championship with a win were dashed on Wednesday at the Carlow SETU Campus as a late Ennae Byrne two-pointer gave Laois a share of the points in this third-round game on Wednesday. It was also not enough for the visitors who needed to win and win well hoping Kildare would put up a big score in the other group match against Wexford.
The home side could well have been out of sight by half-time but they squandered some good chances registering ten wides in the process. Carlow led by 0-4 to 0-2 after 16 minutes with Liam Gavin, Ian Craddock and Brandon Cassidy all on target.
Laois replied with a brace of points from Darren Brennan and they manufactured a good goal when David Donohue wriggled down the right-hand end-line, off-loaded and Conor Raggett rifled home from close range. From a Carlow point of view, they would have been disappointed to be unhinged as easily as they were.
Coming up to half-time, Craddock was unlucky to see his close-range effort come back off the right-hand upright at the town end and fly wide. Another goal chance arrived but the ball flew wide of the left-hand upright.
Nevertheless, the home side hit back with Gavin landing a two-point free to see his side take a 0-8 to 1-3 lead at the interval.
The second half ebbed and flowed. A passing movement put in Jake Nolan for a Carlow goal which put them back in front on 38 minutes. The lead didn’t last long with Laois coming back down and Ryan Little scoring the second Laois three-pointer. It was a sickener of a goal to give away but this Carlow team has courage and are hugely skilful. They dug deep.
With time ebbing away, the home side went ahead when Gavin floated over a free and a 45.
It looked as if the Rathvilly marksman was about to repeat his feat but after consulting with his linesman, the referee awarded a long-range free to Laois back on the Carlow 45. Afterwards the Carlow management acknowledged the home side were penalised for breaking the three-up, three back rule but were adamant that the player in question was not interfering with play. It was a hard one to take.
The pressure was on Byrne but the corner forward made no mistake to give Laois a draw which, on the night, they could count themselves lucky to get.
L Gavin 0-7 (1-2pf, 45, 3fs), J Nolan 1-1, B Cassidy 0-3, J Phiri, I Craddock 0-1 each.
E Byrne 0-4 (2pf, 2fs), D Brennan 0-4 (1-2p), C Raggett, R Little 1-0 each, S Ryan, D Donohue 0-1 each.
Aaron Power; Daire Byrne, Ross Moran, Tom Dillon; Evan Corr, Eoin Myers, Jack Deacy; Adam Burgess, John Phiri; Marc Mulhall, Liam Gavin, Darragh Fitzgerald; Brandon Cassidy, Jake Nolan, Ian Craddock. Subs: Cathal Healy for Corr (38), Alex Callaghan for Fitzgerald (46), Jamie Coakley for Cassidy (46).
Luke O Reilly; Ben O’Connor, Conor Raggett, Jake Darcy; Robbie Murphy, Daragh Loughman, Fionn O’Sullivan; Darren Brennan, Niall Lalor; Tom O’Connell, Sam Ryan, Rory Lalor; David Donohue, Ryan Little, Ennae Byrne. Subs: Paddy Fitzpatrick for Ryan (h/t), Eoin Johnson for N Lalor (h/t), Fionn McEvoy for R Lalor (46).
Enda Kenny (Offaly).
