Laois labour past gutsy New York to reach Tailteann Cup quarter-finals

Reduced to 14 players in the 49th minute following substitute Shaun Fitzpatrick's dismissal, and already locked in an epic struggle with the Exiles, it took everything Laois had to avoid a morale crushing defeat.

CRUCIAL SCORE: Mark Timmons of Laois celebrates scoring a goal. Pic Credit: James Lawlor, Inpho.

Tailteann Cup, preliminary quarter-final

Laois 1-13 New York 1-9

Two days after his wedding, and with his new wife in the stand - on 'honeymoon' in Portlaoise, as he put it - New York manager Alan O'Mara almost received the best possible present.

His Exiles team led strong favourites Laois at half-time in their Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final encounter and were still one up with just 18 minutes to go.

A 58th minute goal from experienced Laois defender Mark Timmons ultimately proved decisive, putting the hosts into a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

But while that was the result just about everyone expected, O'Mara said there was 'regret and disappointment' at the Exiles' inability to finish the job, particularly as they were a man up from the 49th minute.

Laois lost substitute Shaun Fitzpatrick to a second yellow card and looked to be in real trouble but dug deep with 1-3 to New York's 0-1 in the final quarter to mine out a win and a place in this morning's quarter-final draw.

"The only regret I'd have is those one or two big moments in the second-half, I think if we had got the second goal the whole atmosphere would have changed and it would have given us a great platform," said O'Mara.

"But this is county football and at the highest level if those small margins don't go your way then you get punished and we have got punished today.

"So it's pride for sure but regret and disappointment as there should be. We got close but we haven't got it done. You can also be happy at the same time with some of the stuff we did."

Jack Reilly of New York has a shot at goal during the Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final match between Laois and New York at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile

A Kerry man, Bobby O'Regan, played a big part in New York's excellent first-half, hitting 1-1 and creating two more points to leave them 1-6 to 0-8 up at half-time.

At that stage, it looked as if O'Mara may have to postpone the real honeymoon for a little longer as New York looked well placed to advance to next weekend's quarter-finals.

They couldn't push on though and instead it is Laois that will take on a group winner in the last eight, either Kildare, Down or Sligo.

"New York have good players," said Laois manager Justin McNulty. "We didn't take them for granted for a second. We knew they'd travel with a strong party, even though they changed six of their team from the Connacht game against Mayo. They still had good footballers and they came and fair dues to them, they put it up to us big style.

"I'm just thrilled that the players maintained their composure, a man down at crucial stages of the match. Everything looked like it was going against us at that point but fellas maintained their composure and dug it out, so thrilled with that."

If it's Down that Laois are drawn to play, they won't lack motivation having conceded eight goals to Conor Laverty's side at Croke Park in last year's semi-finals.

"That hurt badly, that cut badly," said McNulty, who took over afterwards. "It's something the team committed to doing, to never allow that to happen again."

Laois could have Eoin Buggie, James Kelly and Eoin Lowry back for next weekend as McNulty said they are 'on the brink of coming back' following injuries.

Captain Evan O'Carroll played at centre-forward in Lowry's absence but they struggled for long periods against a ferocious New York defence.

Scorers for Laois: M Timmons (1-0), P Kingston (3f), K Roche (3f), M Barry (0-3 each), E O'Carroll (0-2), N Dunne, Rioghan Murphy (0-1 each).

Scorers for New York: K Butler (0-5, 5f), B O'Regan (1-1), S Brosnan, J Reilly, J Grace (1 '45) (0-1 each).

LAOIS: K Roche; D Kavanagh, S Fingleton, M Timmons; S Lacey, B Byrne, C Heffernan; D Larkin, K Lillis; M Barry, E O'Carroll, K Swayne; R Murphy, N Dunne, P Kingston.

Subs: S Fitzpatrick for Kavanagh (26), C Burke for Lillis (57), M Dempsey for Dunne (70), N Corbett for Murphy (75).

NEW YORK: J Grace; J Boyle, N Hatton, S Bolger; S Brosnan, C O'Dea, R Wharton; L Kearney, E O Conghaile; T Mathers, M Brosnan, E McElligott; K Butler, J Reilly, B O'Regan.

Subs: J Walsh for Reilly (23), Reilly for Brosnan (47), A Loughlin Stones for Mathers (60), N McCarthy for Bolger (65), S Reilly for McElligott (70).

Referee: David Murnane (Cork).