Laois were full value for their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A final victory at Netwatch Cullen Park as they ran out easy winners courtesy of an excellent second-half performance against Carlow.
Having won the Allianz Football Division League 4 title the day before, they were completing a superb hurling and football league double for the county.
They arrived in Carlow with only one thing on their minds - victory and in the process overturning the loss to their neighbours in the group stages.
The O'Moore hurlers eventually completed their mission and did so with a bit to spare.
Travelling to Carlow, it made no difference to the eventual winners here as, having played against the wind in the first half, they easily absorbed everything their rivals threw at them.
Four of the Laois starting forwards scored from play in the opening half, with Aaron Dunphy converting two frees.
Keeper Enda Rowland knocked over a long-range free but his two saves from Paddy Boland ensured Carlow didn’t build up any momentum.
Chris Nolan was Carlow’s most dangerous looking player but he was well marshalled by the Laois defence. He still landed two points from play while Marty Kavanagh converted three frees for the home side but they trailed 0-09 to 0-08 at the interval.
Carlow got off to a great start in the second half when Nolan levelled.
They seemed to be moving into gear when Kavanagh ran at the Laois defence and batted past the advancing Rowland.
Almost immediately, celebration for the home side was turned on its head when Thomas Keyes found the net for a Laois goal from a narrow angle on the left.
They could have added their second goal almost immediately but Brian Tracey spread himself well and saved.
It was ominous at that stage for the Joe McDonagh Cup holders. Laois were hustling, harrying and fighting for everything. The home side were unable to match their rivals.
Dunphy converted a free and kept the pressure on with another goal. This time, Jer Quinlan beat Tracey and from there to the end, Laois dominated.
They could even afford to miss a penalty when Rowland saw his shot saved by Tracey as the game entered the final quarter.
Carlow lost Dion Wall to a black card for his foul which drew the award. Even with 15, it wouldn’t have made an iota of difference to the result at that stage.
Carlow hardly got a look in and scored only 1-03 in the second half as Laois were good value for their 13-point winning margin when referee Thomas Gleeson blew for full-time.
Scorers
Laois: Aaron Dunphy 0-08 (3fs), Tomas Keyes 1-04 (sl f), Jer Quinlan 1-01, David Dooley, Fiachra C Fennell, John Lennon 0-02 each, Martin Phelan, Paddy Purcell, Enda Rowland (f) 0-01 each.
Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 1-05 (4fs), Chris Nolan 0-03, Jack Kavanagh, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, James Doyle, Conor Kehoe 0-01 each.
Laois: Enda Rowland; Ian Shanahan, Ryan Mullaney, Diarmaid Conway, Liam O’Connell, Padraig Delaney, Tom Cuddy, Aidan Corby, Paddy Purcell, John Lennon, Aaron Dunphy, David Dooley, Jer Quinlan, Martin Phelan, Tom Keyes. Subs: Fiachra C Fennell for Lennon (55), Donnchadh Hartnett for Cuddy (58), Willie Dunphy for Quinlan (59), Eric Killeen for Dooley (64), Lee Cleere for Dunphy (66).
Carlow: B Tracey, P Doyle, D Wall, J McCullagh, T Lawlor, K McDonald, C Lawlor, James Doyle, F O’Toole, F Fitzpatrick, C Nolan, M Kavanagh, C Kehoe, J. M. Nolan, P Boland. Subs: R Coady for J Doyle (52), S Treacy for Boland (59), J Kavanagh for J.M Nolan (64), C Whelan for Kehoe (66), N Bolger for Lawlor (69).
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
