A late, late free from Brian Whelan saved Laois a 0-11 apiece draw against Carlow in the first round of the Leinster minor football championship this evening.

In what was an airtight encounter at the IT Carlow grounds, the home side looked to have the job done when Dylan Doyle’s point had them one up in injury-time but the O’Moore men dug their deepest in the dying minutes to snatch a share of the spoils.

There was never more than a point to separate the sides during the opening half-hour, with Conor Goode ensuring that the visitors went in level (0-5 to 0-5) but the Barrowsiders stretched out a three-point lead in the third quarter with marksman Darragh Nolan to the fore.

Laois clawed it back but would still trail by two heading into the home stretch before Ballyroan Abbey ace Whelan made it a one-point game.

Doyle and Whelan exchanged scores on the hour mark to maintain that difference prior to the latter holding his nerve with the last kick of the night to seal a draw for Donncha Phelan's charges.

Carlow - C Kavanagh; S Moran, B Lawlor, J Doyle; P McDonnell, S Buggy, M Behan; D Brennan, J McCullagh; F Fitzpatrick, B Crotty, P Regan; D Doyle (0-6, 3f), D Nolan (0-3, 1f, 1'45), A Keating (0-2). Subs: R Bulmer for B Crotty, J Dowling for F Fitzpatrick, D McKernan for J Doyle, A Smith for S Moran, O Dillon for A Keating.

Laois - M O’Connell; N Little, S Greene, E Critchley; J Kelly, S Fingleton, M Kehoe (0-1); B Brennan, C Goode (0-1); R Murphy (0-2), C Dunne (0-3, 1f), P O’Flynn; O Hooney, C Burke (0-1), B Whelan (0-3f). Subs: C O’Neill for P O’Flynn, P Hosey for B Brennan, K Swayne for C Dunne.

Referee - D O’Connor.

Tweet

Most Read Stories