O'BYRNE SHIELD: Laois 1-14 Carlow 1-7:LAOIS, DESPITE being reduced to 13 men in the second half, were masters of neighbours Carlow in this scrappy O'Byrne Shield tie before an attendance of 1,500 at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

A cracking first-minute goal from Laois midfielder Peter O’Leary, which he followed with a long point from play set the tone.

They led 1-5 to 0-3 at half-time, with Carlow failing to register a score from play until a Daniel St Ledger point in the 43rd minute.

Brendan Murphy scored the Carlow goal on 61 minutes but the second-half was highlighted by three superb points from play by Laois substitute Ross Munnelly, with David Conway also raising three white flags and free-taker Colm Kelly top-scoring with 0-5.

Laois lost Billy Sheehan to a straight red on 39 minutes and 11 minutes later Peter O’Leary went for a second yellow. Carlow centre back Tony Bolger got a second yellow card in the game’s final minutes but overall this was by no means a dirty or fractious game.

LAOIS:J Dunphy; C Healy, K Lilllis, B Mulligan; L Kealy, S Julian, D Strong (0-1); B Quigley, P O'Leary (1-1); G Walsh, N Donoher, A Mahon; C Kelly (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 45), B Sheehan, D Conway (0-3). Subs: K Meaney for Quigley (h/t), R Munnelly (0-3) for Walsh (47 mins), P Cahillane for Donoher (49 mins), C Boyle for Kealy (56 mins), MJ Tierney (0-1, free) for Kelly (62 mins).

CARLOW:A O'Brien; B Kavanagh (0-1), B Lambe, P Murphy; G Nolan, T Bolger, D Mulvaney; Brendan Murphy (1-0), Brian Murphy (0-2, free); C Walshe, S Gannon, E Finnegan; D St Ledger (0-4, 0-3f), C Mullins, D Hayden. Subs: P Reid for Walsh (55 mins), C Coughlan for Nolan (60 mins), C Murphy for Finnegan (66 mins).

Referee: G Whelan (Wicklow).