Laois secured their Senior status for 2024 despite a late comeback from Cavan in Kiltoom, Roscommon.

The midlanders managed to hold onto a two point lead, despite playing a considerable portion of the second half with just 13 players.

The weather conditions throughout the game were difficult as the rain was relentless and got worse the entire way through the hour but in all honesty some bizarre decisions from the officials, with no less than five yellow cards and a first half red, ruined the game as a contest.

Laois scored directly from the throw in as on a direct run from the throw in and Mo Nerney pointed a free on four minutes.

Nerney would add a third score for the midlanders just before Muireann Cusack got Cavan’s first score of the game with a dozen minutes on the clock.

The sinbinning of Cavan’s Aisling Walls after 13 minutes would make little difference to the games as both teams struggled to make an impression on the scoreboard. Cavan would score the only score of that period through Aisling Gilsenan as Laois struggled with their power play. 

Approaching half time Mo Nerney was adjudged to have charged into a Cavan player and the match referee issued his second yellow card of the game as the Laois sharp shooter was given a ten minute sojourn which gave Cavan an opportunity to fire back.

But it was Laois who found their range to double their advantage with a Sarah Ann Fitzgerald free. 

In injury time Fitzgerald would find herself the next one to come to the attention of the referee Eddie Cuthbert, a sliding lunge to attempt to keep possession for her team was adjudged to have been a sin bin offence and as she protested her card the match referee displayed a red card to Fitzgerald, seemingly for something said by the departing forward.

The thirteen players of Laois started the brightest in the second period with Grainne Moran finding her range to push the midlanders two points ahead in the opening minutes of the second half as Mo Nerney returned to the action.

Nerney hit a long range free in the 39th minute to stretch that lead to three points as the weather just became torrential.

Nerney showed her class to add another two points to the lead before the referee issued his fifth card of the game, his fourth to the leading side as Andrea Moran was cautioned for a high challenge on a Cavan defender. 

It could be argued that this was the only challenge to that point that genuinely warranted the sin bin.

Cavan did enjoy a larger share of the possession and territory with the two player advantage but struggled to affect the scoreboard. 

Aisling Gilsenan added her third score to reduce the deficit to four points but Laois were impressive with as they coped admirably with the deficit of their resources.

Shifra Havill almost got the goal the game had been missing when her lobbed effort came back off the post as Cavan worked the ball immediately down the field for midfielder Ellyanna Madden to find some space and round the keeper before slotting through a packed defence to find the net and leave just a point between the sides.

On the next attack Madden herself was over zealous with a charge and saw yellow which effectively killed the momentum Cavan had enjoyed as they playing numbers equalised for the closing stages with each side boasting 14 players for the final few minutes.

A late Orla Hennessy point settled the Laois nerves after great work from Mo Nerney created the opportunity for her club mate although Gilsenan would add a free to leave a single score between the sides as the clock ticked into the red. 

A Laois free from Nerney would prove to be the final score of the game as Cavan wasted a number of late chances and the Breffni women will need to do it all over again next week as the midlanders survive.