Gaelic Games

Neil Foyle lands late winner for Laois as Ross King sees red

Carlow started well through a brilliant goal from captain Martin Kavanagh

Carlow’s Chris Nolan challenges Donncha and Enda Rowland of Laois during the All-Ireland senior championship preliminary round match O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, Co Laois. Photograph: Getty Images
Carlow’s Chris Nolan challenges Donncha and Enda Rowland of Laois during the All-Ireland senior championship preliminary round match O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, Co Laois. Photograph: Getty Images
Sun Jun 25 2017 - 22:23

Laois 2-14 Carlow 1-16

A Neil Foyle point in the fourth minute of injury time proved to be the winning score as Laois got the better of Carlow in a nail-biting All-Ireland SHC preliminary round qualifier game in O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

Laois had captain Ross King sent off on a straight red card and Carlow initially kicked on to lead 1-3 to 0-1 up after 16 minutes, their goal a brilliant effort from captain Martin Kavanagh.

But Laois kept in touch with Paddy Purcell and Cahir Healy particularly prominent and it was 1-8 to 0-9 at half time. Carlow hit the first two points of the second half but a Stephen Maher free and a goal from Sean Downey had Laois level by the 46th minute.

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A Neil Foyle goal gave Laois a three-point cushion heading into the final 10 minutes and when Martin Kavanagh picked up his second yellow, it looked as if Laois were in a great position.

But with substitute Chris Nolan on fire hitting three of the four points Carlow got in succession, they led as game went into injury time.

Yet Laois weren’t to be denied. Goalkeeper Enda Rowland pointed a massive free and then Foyle popped up with the winner.

LAOIS: E Rowland (0-2, 2f); D Palmer, L Bergin, L Cleere; E Killeen, M Whelan, C Collier; P Purcell (0-2), J Kelly; S Maher (0-3, 2f), C Healy (0-2), S Downey (1-1); M Kavanagh (0-1), N Foyle (1-1), R King (0-1, f). Subs: D Hartnett for Palmer (ht), A Dunphy for M Kavanagh (43), C Taylor (0-1) for Maher (inj - 52), A Corby for Collier (59), S Bergin for Downey (67) CARLOW: B Treacy; A Corcoran, P Doyle, G Bennett; R Coady, D English, R Kelly; J Murphy, D Byrne (0-2); JM Nolan (0-1), P Coady (0-3, 1f), E Byrne (0-1); D Murphy (0-2, 2f), J Doyle (0-1), M Kavanagh (1-2). Subs: D Wall for P Doyle (inj - 28), C Nolan (0-4, 2f) for D Murphy. J Kavanagh for J Murphy (55), K McDonald for P Coady (64). Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)