Football: Beano back with a bang as Laois ham it up before Dublin; NOTHING QUITE LIKE A McDONALD.

Byline: By JACK NOLAN 

Carlow 1-09

Laois 1-17

LAOIS cruised to a semifinal meeting with Dublin yesterday as they dismissed the challenge of Carlow with ease and served notice to the remaining Leinster counties that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Many had forecast that Beano McDonald would not return after his horrific leg break in 2004, but he was back to his brilliant best as he tormented the Carlow defence with his ball winning, distribution and skillful football and kicked four magnificent scores as well.

The game was as good as over after 20 minutes, as Laois, before 15,000 sun-baked supporters, raced into a 1-5 to 0-0 lead.

Carlow didn't score until the 24th minute but then picked off four successive points to put themselves back in contention.

But, as the game entered injury-time at the end, Laois held an 11 point lead until a late penalty goal gave the score a more respectable look.

Carlow manager Liam Hayes was far from happy with the Laois penalty decision or indeed with referee John Geaney who he described in less than flattering terms

"I thought the referee was sh**e from start to finish. You get used to that, as they are ostensibly harder on the weaker counties like Carlow.

"We were getting defenders booked like flies. We had the whole full back line booked after 20 minutes and their players were getting ticked and getting away with it.

"That makes a big difference when defenders are yellow carded early on and that was a big factor.

"The referee was a disaster from start to finish. I don't know where they get these guys. We made our own grave but he bloody well filled it in very quickly.

"The penalty was a real killer and a strange decision to make and while it didn't impinge on the final result it left us five points down at half time.

"We had three men behind the ball and I can tell you that none of them took Donie Brennan down''

Hayes' view of the referee would not be shared by most neutral observers, as while there were doubts about the penalty decisions, there was little disputing any of the disciplinary decisions as he used his umpires and linesmen to best effect.

Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer was delighted. "I couldn't have asked for more than that from those lads in the conditions. It was dreadfully hot out there and energy sapping and we did all we had to do," he said.

"We got some great scores and it was great to see Beano back at his very best, all our forwards scored and we dominated midfield.

The entire starting attack had scored by half-time with Donie Brennan opening the account and Paul Lawlor (2), Beano, Ross Munnelly, Chris Conway and captain Gary Kavanagh adding to Fergal Byron's penalty strike for a 1-7 to 0-5 half time lead.

Carlow did hit five points in the final 10 minutes of the half with Mark Carpenter, Pat Hickey, Brian Carberry, centre back Joe Byrne and Simon Rea finding the range but it was clear that Laois were in a different class.

Beano and Ross Munnelly punched a brace of points on the restart but points from Simon Rea (2) and John Hayden kept Carlow in touch.

And they had a chance to close the gap further but Fergal Byron produced a superb save to deny Brian Carberry a certain goal.

Twenty minutes into the game Laois upped a gear or two and hit seven of the next eight scores as they opened up the Carlow defence with long deliveries from Darren Rooney and with 19-year-old substitute Brendan Quigley making a huge impression in the middle of the park.

That lead could have been greater but for John Brennan making a magnificent save to deny Donie Brennan.

But many supporters were on the road home before Carlow won their late penalty which Simon Rea converted as Laois marched on to play Dublin in an eagerly awaited repeat of last year's Leinster final.

CAPTION(S):

TAKES A FLYING LEAP: Carlow's Trevor Smith was airborne after this tackle by Paul Lawlor yesterday' DELIGHT: Paul Lawlor and Brian McDonald' ON THE SPOT: Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron scores a penalty against his opposite number in yesterday's victory over Carlow