Carlow produced a magnificent second-half performance against the wind to oust Laois on a 2-15 to 4-7 scoreline at O'Moore Park.

Trailing by four points at the short whistle, the victors registered 1-5 without reply upon the restart to turn this entertaining derby match on its head and they went on to seal a semi-final date at home to either Kilkenny or Dublin on June 24th.

A wonderful first-half hat-trick of goals from Cha Dwyer propelled the losers into a 3-4 to 1-6 interval advantage, and that lead looked unassailable as the hosts had played against the wind.

Marty Kavanagh and PJ Scully traded early frees before O'Moore County senior Dwyer hit the net in the ninth minute to send the hosts into a three-point lead.

A James Doyle free reduced the gap and the Barrowsiders were unlucky when they had a goal chalked out as the referee had already sounded his whistle for a free-in, which Kavanagh converted. Ger Coady supplied the equaliser for Johnny Nevin's men.

Cometh the hour, cometh the men: Dwyer was on hand to register his second goal before James Doyle equalised immediately with a major at the other end - 2-1 to 1-4! Incredibly, Dwyer completed his hat-trick of goals within 20 minutes as Seamus Plunkett's men led by 3-1 to 1-5.

Cian Taylor and Ronan Broderick stretched the gap and Carlow hit back with a Doyle free two minutes from the break. The O'Moore men led by four at the turnaround.

Kevin McDonald's free reduced the gap upon the restart and Ayrton Gleeson netted to tie the scores up again in the 34th minute before another McDonald free edged the visitors back ahead, 2-8 to 3-4. Kavanagh pointed to leave two between them with 20 minutes remaining and McDonald made it 1-4 without reply at the start of the second half.

When McDonald split the posts with another free in the 42nd minute, his side suddenly led by 2-11 to 3-4. Ciaran Collier finally got Laois up and running in the second half but Carlow hit back with a brace of McDonald frees to lead by five with eleven minutes left to play.

A converted Scully free and '65' made things interesting as the gap came down to a goal but McDonald steadied Carlow with another free eight minutes from time. Scully's goal left a point in it with just five minutes left, 4-7 to 2-14.

But McDonald clipped over another Carlow free on the stroke of full time and Laois' disappointing night went from bad to worse when Colm Stapleton was shown a straight red card at the death.

Kilkenny and Dublin meet next Tuesday; the winners will travel to Dr Cullen Park in four weeks' time to take on this impressive Carlow combination for a place in the final.

Carlow - J Barron; S Whelan, L Roche, M Malone; J Murphy, G Coady (0-1), M Grady; D Byrne, C Fenlon; M Kavanagh (0-4, 2f), D Wall, P Shaw; J Doyle (1-3, 0-2f), A Gleeson (1-0), T Joyce. Subs: K McDonald (0-7, 6f) for T Joyce, C Nolan for D Wall, P Doran for L Roche.

Laois - E Rowland; S Finan, C McEvoy, R Broderick (0-1); C Stapleton, G Dunne, J Campion; D Palmer, R Mullaney; C Taylor (0-1), PJ Scully (1-3, 0-2f, 0-1'65), C Collier (0-1); A Moore, C Dwyer (3-1), B Conroy. Subs: S Bergin for C Taylor, D Cripps for A Moore.

Referee - G Quilty.

The victorious Carlow team leave the pitch in Portlaoise after 2-15 to 4-7 victory @gaaleinster pic.twitter.com/Z3kX072MIl

- Carlow GAA (@Carlow_GAA) May 27, 2015

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