Laois 0-15 Carlow 0-14:LAOIS WERE given the fright of their hurling lives by neighbours Carlow in an exciting semi-final at Dr Cullen Park last night.

Laois, shock winners over defending provincial champions Dublin in the last round, knew they were in a battle when Carlow opened with the first four points of the game, with a brace from Marty Kavanagh supplemented by white flags from Ross Smithers and midfielder Craig Wall.

Stephen Maher opened the visitors’ account on 10 minutes with a pointed free. By the middle of the half the teams were level at 0-4 each before Carlow pulled away with points from midfielder Adam Kenny, Kavanagh and then Kenny again.

But with the accuracy of Maher from frees a telling aspect for Laois, they went in at half-time 0-9 to 0-8 in front.

Carlow, coached by former Waterford star Paul Flynn, continued to take the game to Laois and a Wall point midway through the half edged them 0-13 to 0-12 in front.

Laois levelled through substitute James Ryan before points from Pauric Lalor and a pointed free from Maher put them in front.

Kavanagh pointed for Carlow as the game entered injury-time, but Laois held out.

LAOIS: E Fleming; P Flynn, G Burke, J Finane; J Fitzpatrick, A Phelan, N Unwin; D Freeman (0-1), B Dunne; W Dunphy (0-1), P Lalor (0-1), S Maher (0-8, 7f); B Reddin (0-2), N Foyle (0-1), D King. Subs: J Ryan (0-1) for Lalor (35); Ross King for D King (43); C Dwyer for Reddin (56).

CARLOW: B Tracey; B Lambe, C Lawlor, L Kinsella; J Corcoran, D English (0-1), J Doyle; A Kenny (0-2), C Wall (0-2); R Smithers (0-1), J M Nolan (0-1), A McDonald; D Roberts (0-1), M Kavanagh (0-5, 3f), P Shaw (0-1). Sub: J Doyle for Nolan (52).

Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).