Kelly left to rue missed chances but optimistic ahead of injury returns

Carlow manager Paul Kelly was left to rue of first half of missed opportunities as his side made a losing start to the All-Ireland Series – Kelly’s first in charge of the county.

“We went in at half-time four down. Playing with a breeze, you probably want to be four up,” he said.

“We did well in the first half, we thought we were hurling well. But then Laois got two goals against run of play and that put us on the back foot.

“At half-time, it was nine scores to eight, and that was us on nine points and Laois on two six, so the goals were probably the big factor there in that first half.”

Carlow came out fighting early in the second half, but again Kelly was left to rue missed opportunities.

“We missed a free and we missed one from open play - we probably needed those to settle us. That would have brought us within two, probably give us that little bit of confidence at the start of the second half,” the Tipperary native said.

“Laois then attacked and got a score, and they got another goal, which made it an up-hill battle, but in fairness to the girls, they battled well. They asked questions of the Laois goalkeeper there in the second half and we came away with two goals. Ciara Kavanagh was unlucky there with another shot on goal, but I suppose that breeze in the second half probably told in the end.”

Carlow were not a million miles off Laois, and the scoreline is probably an unfair reflection of the game; but Kelly’s side will need to dust themselves off now with Westmeath up next after they began with a 4-13 to 1-12 win over Meath.

“There’s not much between any of the teams in Group 2, Laois, Meath, Westmeath or ourselves,” the manager said. “But hopefully we can get a few injury concerns cleared up ahead of the next day. We were also missing Roisin Joyce there today, due to her commitments with Wexford Youths.

“So, we’re probably short four starters there today, so, hopefully having some of them back gives an injection going into the next round against Westmeath and get us over the line.

“We just probably need to play for an entire 45-50 minutes to get us over the line today. But there is great girls there, there’s good talent there, but it’s just to get everyone on the pitch.

“We’re unfortunate as well with the girls winning the U23 All-Ireland Championship a few weeks back, because we lost a few girls through injuries there too.

“We’d love to get everyone on the pitch and have a full tilt and go into the next game.”