LULU CARROLL broke Monaghan hearts at Croke Park yesterday with an equalising goal for Laois in the final minute of the women's All Ireland football final.

The Ulster champions looked set for their first senior title when the midfielder sent the ball looping over Ann Gavan's head directly from a free.

It was cruel luck for the Monaghan goalkeeper who had made a string of outstanding saves to put her country within seconds of collecting the Brendan Martin Cup. Only for her Laois counterpart, Teresa Swayne, not even a late goal - could have saved the Leinster team.

No date has yet been set for the replay but the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association will hope for a bigger attendance than yesterday's 13,000. While this was 3,000 up on last year's final between Waterford and Monaghan, it was still short of the predicted 20,000.