Laois stay cool under pressure

Laois 0-15 Carlow 1-7

There are certain days when champions are ripe to fall. For so long, Laois, below-par and lethargic, looked safe, if not secure.

Tom Kelly, their inspirational centre-back, had surged forward to release them from the Carlow cosh. It was one of his trademark forays, that from last summer, we expect to end with a score to lift the masses. However, this time, as he finally shook the last desperate Carlow tackle, his shot was wild and wayward. And wide.