Laois get the better of Carlow in McDonagh Cup final
The Carlow hurling team stand for a moments silence to honour former Laois great Jer Cuddy before the throw in. Photo: Pat Ahern.
Carlow’s hopes of a third Joe McDonagh Cup success at Croke Park on Saturday were dashed by Laois who were banishing the ghosts of final defeats over the last two years.
An early James Doyle goal for Carlow should have given them momentum but Laois came back to score five points without reply. A second Marty Kavanagh point in the opening quarter ensured their rivals would never get away from them. For the eventual winners, Aaron Dunphy, Martin Phelan and Cillian Dunne all raised white flags from play with Stephen Maher converting two frees.
Eventually Carlow, who would go on to register 11 wides in each half, added to their total with Evan Kealy and Fiachra Fitzpatrick both picking off scores from distance as Laois led 0-13 to 1-7 at the break.
While Carlow’s Jack Treacy opened the second half scoring they found it difficult to close the gap any further. With all their starting forwards scoring from play, Laois kept Carlow at bay.
The crucial Laois goal came with 16 minutes to go when Carlow failed to clear their lines and Dunne pounced to find the net. Laois could still not relax and with just over five minutes to go, Chris Nolan’s point left only three in it.
From there, Laois found a bit extra and after Jack Kelly’s white flag put them four up, the O’Moore Men surged forward scoring six points without reply to run out convincing winners.
S Maher 0-9 (6fs), C Dunne 1-6, A Dunphy, J Kelly 0-3 each, D Dooley, T Keyes, B Conroy, J Keyes, F C Fennell, M Phelan 0-1 each.
M Kavanagh 0-7 (65 4fs), J Doyle 1-1, J Treacy 0-3, C Nolan, F Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, E Kealy, D Murphy, K McDonald (f) 0-1 each.
E O’Reilly, I Shanahan, L Cleere, C Comerford, F C Fennell, P Delaney, R Mullaney, D Dooley, A Corby, M Phelan, S Maher, A Dunphy, B Conroy, C Dunne, T Keyes.
M Dowling for T Keyes (50), J Kelly for Conroy (54), F Mahoney for Corby (58), J Keyes for Phelan (65), G Lynch for Dunphy (69).
B Tracey, P Doyle, D Wall, J McCullagh, J Nolan, K McDonald, E Kealy, F Fitzpatrick, C Whelan, C Kehoe, J Treacy, D Murphy, M Kavanagh, C Nolan, J Doyle.
P Boland for Kehoe (38), Jake Nolan for Murphy (53), John M Nolan for Kealy (66), F O’Toole for Treacy (73).
E Furlong (Wexford).
