Laois manager Willie Maher was disappointed following his side’s draw away to Carlow in the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Maher’s men led for the vast majority of the game, but a last gasp goal from a penalty deep into injury time for Martin Kavanagh stole a draw for Carlow.
“Very disappointed not to win the match, it feels like a defeat at the moment,” said Maher.
“The lads gave us everything after the sending off, to go three points up in injury time.
“I’ll do an Arsene Wenger on it and say I didn’t see the penalty but I didn’t. The reaction inside is very much that it wasn’t a penalty so we’re very disappointed with that decision and a couple of others.
“I suppose that’s sport, you get on with the thing and the lads gave us everything as I said when we went to 14 men and to go three points up in injury time on a day we weren’t scoring that freely.
“We missed a good few chances in the first half as well so we’re disappointed but we’ll just lift ourselves again and drive on.”
Both sides had their periods of dominance in the game and Maher spoke on the competitive nature of the Joe McDonagh Cup.
“It’s the nature of the McDonagh Cup as regards to the quality of teams that are in it, everyone’s in or around the same level so games can go anyway at anytime.
“Carlow is a very difficult place to come and play and look we’re still alive, to an extent. Win our next two games and see can we put ourselves in a position to go where we want to go.”
Laois led by six in the first half and then seven in the second half, but a scoreless period of 20 minutes in the second half allowed Carlow back into the game coming towards the end and Maher spoke on that.
“That was crucial (the scoreless period). The momentum went against us and our sending off was in the middle of that as well. They used the ball very, very well.
“They had a man in front of our full forward line which seemed to attract the ball and our use of it wasn’t good going into the area.
“I’ll finish on a positive as regards we worked the ball for the last 10 minutes when we looked like we were out and we were on the ropes and we were nearly down, but we weren’t and we stayed going.
“We got brilliant scores and the one where the Carlow man threw the hurl – I don’t think that even got a yellow so that’ll tell you about some of the decisions that were going against us,” he added.
“We’re still in the race and we know where we want to get to. Win our next two matches and hopefully that’ll see us through.”
Finally, he gave an update on the injuries that forced Aaron and Willie Dunphy off the field against Down last week.
“Two hamstring injuries from last week. They’ll be another two or three weeks so they’ll be touch and go for both Kildare and Kerry.”
SEE ALSO – All square as Laois and Carlow finish level in Joe McDonagh Cup thriller
