James Kielt rescues draw for Derry in injury time

Laois 1-22 Derry 5-10: Laois and Derry played out a dramatic draw in O’Moore Park yesterday as James Kielt’s injury-time point ensured a share of the spoils for the visitors.

After the mauling at the hands of Fermanagh the week before, Laois needed a strong start, and they got just that when Paul Kingston had the ball in the net after just 25 seconds. Thomas Mallon failed to hold Brendan Quigley’s shot and Kingston pounced on the loose ball. Paul Cahillane added a free moments later and Laois were up and running, as Derry looked stunned by the early barrage. Ryan Bell opened their account with a free in the sixth minute, but the game was then held up for eight minutes following a serious leg injury suffered by Laois’ Kieran Lillis.

When play resumed, Bell fired over another free for Derry, but Laois hit back through Cahillane and Evan O’Carroll to keep the goal between the sides. A Brendan Quigley point sent them four clear, but Derry took a chunk out of that lead when wing-back Daniel Heavron got forward to fire to the bottom corner.