Laois reach Leinster final and Carlow are rising no more

LAOIS 0-12 - CARLOW 0-8

Laois have reached their first Leinster SFC final since 2007 after seeing off Carlow at Croke Park. John Sugrue has brought Laois to the final in his first campaign as county manager. The game itself was less than pretty but it will not matter a jot to the victors. Ross Munnelly, the sole survivor from the 2007 Laois side, contributed three points and Donie Kingston chipped in with a couple of crucial scores. Colm Begley had a fine game and he came up good with a point too. The first half was a low-scoring affair with Carlow playing very defensive and Laois trying to stretch them using the full breadth of the pitch. Sugrue's men led 0-6 to 0-3 at the break and fans watching, and listening in on the wireless, assured themselves that Carlow would loosen the shackles and go for it in the second half. Turlogh O'Brien's charges certainly gave it a rattle but Laois kept them at arm's length with a steady drip of points. Munnelly was called ashore in the second half and Evan O'Carroll - a pre-match doubt after the recent passing of his father - took his place to help his side see out their last four win. The closest Carlow got was 0-6 to 0-5, after 50 minutes, but Laois pulled away in the final 20 minutes and were deserved victors.