Laois minor hurlers advance from group thanks to six-point win over Carlow

Glen McEvoy's charges lost to Kildare in round one but wins over Kerry and now Carlow sees them advance from the group in second place.

Goals from Harps duo Tony Mahony and Ross Deegan, as well as another from Castletown's Tom Óg Phelan, helped Laois on their way to a vital home win.

Carlow were essentially playing for pride, having lost both their previous games in Group 2, but to their credit, they made a real game of it, staying within touching distance of their hosts until the very end.

The visitors took the lead, but Laois got to grips with things early as Eoin Delaney equalised before two frees from Tom Og Phelan had the hosts in front.

Goals from Tony Mahony and Tom Og Phelan ensured that Laois took a 2-7 to 0-8 lead into the half-time break.

Ross Deegan came on at the break and scored Laois's third goal just 20 seconds on the field.

That left Carlow chasing the game, but they certainly looked up to the challenge, scoring three of the next four scores.

Phelan replied with another free, but Carlow slotted three scores on the bounce, narrowing the gap to just four points with over ten minutes remaining.

But a late rally from Laois, with scores from Phelan and substitutes Eoin Bracken and Conor Headen, ensured Glen McEvoy's side picked up the win.

Scorers – Laois: Tom Óg Phelan 1-6 (0-6f); Tony Mahony, Ross Deegan 1-0 each; Kyron Cuddy 0-2; Eoin Delaney, Shane Connolly, Eoin Bracken and Conor Headen 0-1 each. Carlow: Ruairi Murphy 0-9 (all frees), Shane McCarthy 0-2; Kyle Nolan, Eoin Doyle, Ciarán Kavanagh and Alan Wall 0-1 each.

Laois: Donnacha Carroll; Liam O’Keefe, Conor Mortimer, Matthew Cunningham; Tony Mahony, Tommy Goode, Eoin Duggan; Shane Connolly, Aaron Mahon; Eoin Delaney, Tom Og Phelan, Daniel Whelan; Kyron Cuddy, Ashton Keenan, Ruaidhri Kavanagh. Subs: Ross Deegan for Keenan (HT), Colm Brennan for Cunningham (40), Eoin Bracken for Deegan (41, inj), Conor Headen for Mahon (47).

Carlow: Peter Lynch; Seanie McMahon, Mike Geraghty, Niall Power; Kieran Donald, Martin Carroll, Ruarc O’Neill; Eoin Doyle, Aodhan Kehoe; Ciarán Kavanagh, James Brennan, Robbie Ward; Kyle Nolan, Ruairí Murphy, Charlie Byrne. Subs: Finlay Racklyeft for Lynch (35, inj), Alan Wall for Ward (43), Shane McCarthy for Power (47), Sean Grennan for Nolan and Harry Griffith for Donald (both 55).

Referee: Eoin Maher (Kilkenny).