Carlow Minor Footballers Leinster Championship campaign came to a disappointing end at Netwatch Cullen Park on Wednesday night, as Laois prevailed by 1-13 to 1-4, just four days after they stopped Carlow Minor Hurlers in their tracks by 3-20 to 0-9.
Laois dominated the early stages and a goal from Johnny Kelly gave them a 1-5 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes with Ross Dunphy getting Carlow’s opening score.
Carlow then had two big goal chances, but Laois Keeper Ross McGrath saved superbly from both Conor Crowley and Jake Elliott.
However Carlow received a lifeline just before the break when Jordan Morrissey was brought down after a scything 60 yard run. Fellow Eire Og man Cathal Myers stepped up and converted the penalty which left Carlow just 1-7 to 1-2 behind at half time.
Morrissey then kicked a superb point just after the resumption and it appeared that Carlow could come thundering back into the game, but amazingly they wouldn’t score for another 31 long minutes when substitute John Byrne pointed in stoppage time.
It was a disappointing end for Carlow with both the minor hurlers and footballers now out for the year, but great credit must go to Laois who march on in their big to become Leinster champions.
Carlow: Keith Hickey; Lee Nolan, James Kehoe, Conor O’Doherty; Niall Cawley, Tommy Bric, Rory Doyle; Niall Roche, Jordan Morrissey (0-1); Michael Gardiner, Cillian Redmond, Cathal Myers (1-0 pen); Conor Crowley (0-1 free), Ross Dunphy (0-1), Jake Elliott.
Subs: Cian Fitzpatrick for Cawley and Jody Murphy for Redmond (both half time), Gavin Healy for Elliott, Dylan Nolan for Rory Doyle, John Byrne (0-1) for Dunphy.