Beano’s toughest battle

PORTARLINGTON, Monday, 8.47pm. An evening for ducks and dogs, though the 30 players unlucky enough to be out in the deluge look more like drowned rats.

Laois and Carlow have 12 torturous minutes still to fill before full-time and Liam Hayes' men to stretch the analogy have sunk without trace long ago. Laois are firing over some nice points, but the bright lights of the dressing-rooms are attracting some wistful glances.

Not from Brian McDonald though. Mick O'Dwyer summons Paul Lawlor ashore and the few hundred onlookers huddled under the protection of the main stand roar their approval as Beano trots on.