Both sides will feel they left a point behind them in this NHL Division 1B game at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Laois hit a total of 16 wides over the seventy minutes while 14-man Carlow led by four points going into the final ten minutes. In the end, a brilliant David English free out on the right hand side-line around the 65 metre mark rescued a point for them.
Richard Coady walked on 49 minutes after picking up a second yellow. Carlow responded well to that shock but the visitors gradually found a way to use their extra man.
It looked decisive as points from Neil Foyle, Enda Rowland, Mark Kavanagh, Charles Dwyer and Kavanagh again nudged Laois in front with time running out. Then came the late English intervention and now Offaly await Carlow next week.
Laois will be looking to overturn Dublin if they are to make secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
It was tight all through the first half as both teams hunted and harried the opposition. Scores from play were hard to come by where the two Kavanagh’s Marty for Carlow and Mark for Laois punished rival indiscipline. Enda Rowland also notched four points in total.
By contrast, Carlow didn’t hit one wide in the first half and in the second half they only had three.
With Laois leading 0-9 to 0-7 at the interval goal chances were few and far between but Ted Joyce should have done better when a Carlow passing movement in the opening minutes put him through on Rowland but the Laois keeper saved at the expense of a 65.
The best chance Laois had of finding the net came late in the first half. With Laois forwards in on goal the ball ran loose and the Carlow keeper Brian Tracey, raced from his goal and swept the ball to safety.
In the end, a draw was frustrating for both sides. A point gained or a point lost won’t become apparent until next week.
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Alan Corcoran, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Eoin Nolan, David English (0-1f), Richard Coady; Jack Kavanagh (0-1), Sean Whelan; John Michael Nolan (0-1), Marty Kavanagh (0-8 65, 7fs), Seamus Murphy (0-2); James Doyle (0-1), Ted Joyce, Chris Nolan (0-2).
Subs: Jon Nolan for Joyce (34 mins), Eddie Byrne (0-1) for JM. Nolan (44 mins), Ross Smithers for M. Kavanagh (66 mins).
Laois: Enda Rowland (0-4fs); Joe Phelan, Matthew Whelan, Donncha Hartnett; Jack Kelly (0-1), Ryan Mullaney, Jack Cranny; John Lennon, Sean Downey; Aaron Dunphy (0-2), Eanna Lyons, Paddy Purcell; Mark Kavanagh (0-8 2-65s, 6fs), Willie Dunphy, Stephen Maher.
Subs: Neil Foyle (0-1) for Lennon (38 mins), Lorcan Burke for Kelly (46 mins), Mark Dowling for Maher (50 mins), Charles Dwyer (0-1) for Lyons (59 mins),
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)
