Carlow’s David English swept over a late free as his side secured a 0-17 points apiece draw with neighbours Laois at Dr Cullen Park.

The O'Moore County, who meet Dublin in the last round, remain a point ahead of Carlow in the race for a quarter-final place, Colm Bonnar's men still seeking their first win of the campaign, having also drawn with Galway. They take on bottom-of-the-table Offaly next weekend.

Marty Kavanagh (‘65’) and goalkeeper Enda Rowland (free) traded the first two scores and Mark Kavanagh (free) cancelled out Jack Kavanagh’s effort as early exchanges proved tight. It remained tit for tat until pointed frees from Kavanagh and Rowland handed the visitors a 0-9 to 0-7 half-time lead.

When the action resumed, a brace of Marty Kavanagh frees was chalked out by Aaron Dunphy and Rowland (free) but the Barrowsiders then landed six unanswered points via John Michael Nolan, Marty Kavanagh (two frees), Seamus Murphy (2) and Edward Byrne to lead by four, 0-15 to 0-11 early in the fourth quarter, Neil Foyle, Enda Rowland, Mark Kavanagh on target prior to that.

The hosts had been reduced to 14 men when Richard Coady was shown a second yellow card in the 49th minute and Eddie Brennan’s men finally got their noses in front again thanks to a run of five successive points, Mark Kavanagh’s ‘65’ handing then the lead after Cha Dwyer had equalised in the 70th minute.

It looked like Eddie Brennan’s the away team had done enough but English pounced late on for the 14 men.

Carlow - B Tracey; A Corcoran, P Doyle, M Doyle; E Nolan, D English (0-1f), R Coady; J Kavanagh (0-1), S Whelan; J M Nolan (0-1), M Kavanagh (0-8, 7f, 1'65), S Murphy (0-2); J Doyle (0-1), T Joyce, C Nolan (0-2). Subs: J Nolan for T Joyce, E Byrne (0-1) for J M Nolan, R Smithers for M Kavanagh.

Laois - E Rowland (0-4f); J Phelan, M Whelan, D Hartnett; J Kelly (0-1), R Mullaney, J Cranney; J Lennon, S Downey; A Dunphy (0-2), E Lyons, P Purcell; M Kavanagh (0-8, 6f, 2'65), W Dunphy, S Maher. Subs: N Foyle (0-1) for J Lennon, L Burke for J Kelly, M Dowling for S Maher, C Dwyer (0-1) for E Lyons.

Referee - C McAllister.

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