Rebels denied in thriller

Cork 2-13 Laois 2-13

Both managers agreed that a draw was a fair result after a magnificent game in very warm conditions, but the rematch will play havoc with local championship fixtures, as it's set for Saturday next in Limerick at 3.30pm.

"We got the kind of start we wanted, and were going well particularly in the first half. We dominated the second half for long periods but couldn't score and then conceded a very sloppy goal which had us battling to get back into the game," said Cork coach Tony Leahy.

"However I never doubted the character or our lads when we fell two points behind. Another team would have folded but our lads showed great resilience in battling back and I honestly thought we had won it when Fiachra Lynch kicked the lead point late in the game, but all credit to Laois, it would have been very hard on them if they had lost."

Laois boss Sean Dempsey echoed the same sentiments, but felt his side should have won it when they took the lead.

"It's something we'll have to learn to do is kill off a game when we get on top, but it would have been very hard on either side to have gone out of the championship today. It was a great game, and the replay should be no different."

Forced to line out without John Hayes, Cork got off to a dream start when Daniel Goulding rattled the Laois net after three minutes following a splendid move involving Eoin Cadogan and Fintan Gould, who supplied the final pass.

Lively Laois were back for two quick points as the game settled into a free flowing contest, and in another sweeping move the Munster champions carved open the Laois defence for Paul Kerrigan to drill home a second goal.

Laois tried to steady their full back line by bringing on Ray Stapleton to mark Daniel Goulding and they made an astute switch in moving Donie Brennan to corner forward.

Coupled with that, they played two inside forwards, pulling Colm Kelly out as a third midfielder and leaving Ray Carey as an extra defender. It gave Laois an extra man, which they used to the full, and three points by impressive wing forward Peter O'Leary had them back in the game after 20 minutes.

Cork were guilty of slack marking in defence, particularly giving a player of the calibre of Peter O'Leary so much room but so were Laois, who gave Daniel Goulding the freedom to do as he liked.

After the early flurry of scores, the scoring dried up and at half time Cork held a four-point lead, 2-5 to 0-7. There was no let-up in the pace after half-time, but both sets of forwards kicked inexcusable wides from scoring positions, and 15 minutes went by without a score before Patrick Kelly finally broke the deadlock with a Cork point.

Back came Laois to rip the Cork defence apart for Donie Brennan to fist home a goal and Michael Tierney's point tied the game for the first time.

Laois were rampant and Cork were hanging on by their fingernails, but Paul Kerrigan eased the pressure with a point, their first for 13 minutes, and the Munster champions looked good enough to hold on for victory.

However, outstanding Laois midfielder David Murphy came forward to equalise, sending the game to 20 minutes of extra time.

Cork began the first period with Eoin Cagodan at midfield where he played his best football, but Laois sub Stephen O'Leary slipped home a goal which helped his side to a 2-11 to 2-9 half time lead.

The second period was dominated by Cork and in particular Fintan Gould, who kicked three glorious points, the third one tying the game for the fourth time. Sub Fiachra Lynch then kicked the lead point as the game went into injury time, but Chris Bergin landed the equalising point to earn Laois a second bite of the cherry.

Scorers: Cork: F. Gould 0-5 (0-1 free, 0-1 45); P. Kerrigan 1-2; D.; Goulding 1-1; J. Murphy (free), C. Keane, N. Shields, P. Kelly, F. Lynch 0-1 each. Laois: D. Brennan 1-2; S. O'Leary 1-0; P. O'Leary 0-3; D. Murphy, P. McNulty, 0-2 each; C. Kelly, M. Tierney (free), B. Quigley, C. Bergin 0-1 each.

CORK: K. O'Halloran; R. Carey, C. Murphy, S. O'Donoghue; D. Limrick, M. Shields, E. Cagodan; A. O'Connor, P. Kelly; F. Gould, B. Cotter, P. Kerrigan; D. Goulding, B. O'Flynn, J. Hayes.

Subs: C. Callanan for O'Flynn; A. O'Sullivan for Cotter; C. Keane for Kelly; F. Lynch for Murphy; P.O'Flynn for Callanan.

LAOIS: C. Gorman; C. Healy, M. Timmons, B. Meredith; C. Rogers, C. Ryan, P. O'Leary; B. Quigley, D. Murphy; D. Brennan, C. Bergin, P. McNulty; M. Tierney, C. Kelly, C. Kelly.

Subs: R. Stapleton for Meredith; N. Donagher for Bergin; S. O'Leary for Tierney; C. Bergin for P. O'Leary.

Referee: J. McKee (Armagh).