Fast start fires Laois to seven-point Tailteann triumph over Wicklow
Evan O'Carroll was the top scorer with an impressive 1-6.
Laois opened their Tailteann Cup campaign with an impressive seven-point victory over Wicklow at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday evening. Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half, the hosts made a blistering start and quickly settled into their rhythm, creating a number of early goal chances.
Wicklow battled hard in the second period and reduced the deficit with a series of two-point frees, but Laois remained in control throughout and comfortably secured a deserved opening-round win.
Laois playing with the wind behind them got off to a flying start when a long ball found Ronan Coffey who then faced Mark Jackson, he got around Jackson, but Gavin Fogarty was there to clear the shot off the line. Mark Kenny went on to kick the games first score while Robert Tyrrell replied for the home side.
Kevin Swayne took off on a super solo run, but his shot was blocked in a busy square and out for 45’ which Matthew Byron put between the posts. Evan O’Carroll then pointed his first of the game while Oisin McGraynor replied for Wicklow. A third goal scoring opportunity arouse for Laois, but Mark Jackson denied Daragh Galvin once again allowing Byron to convert a 45’.
O’Carroll added a second to his name and Eoin Darcy pointed Wicklow’s first free of the game. Laois hit a purple patch and added a further 1-8 to their scoreboard without a response from their opponents. A super turnover from Ciaran Burke in the back line allowed a pass out to Pa Kirwan who found Aaron McEvoy, McEvoy passed into Galvin and eventually the ball fell to O’Carroll who rattled the upper net.
Ronan Coffey pointed his first while O’Carroll added a third before Coffey raised the games first orange flag. An opportunity came for Wicklow when McGraynor square a ball to Dean Healy, but Byron was pulled off a super save to deny him. Laois travelled up the pitch once again and Kirwan pointed two in a row followed by a well taken two-pointer from O’Carroll.
Joe Prendergast pointed Wicklow’s fourth score in the 33rd minute while Jackson converted a two-point free after the ball wasn’t handed back in Wicklow’s half resulting in the free being brought forward 50 meters. Laois immediately cancelled out Wicklow’s two-pointer when Byron converted one himself from a placed ball. Laois took a healthy 12-point advantage to the dressing room, (1-15 to 0-6).
Kirwan and Kenny traded scores to get the second half underway. Laois went on point three in a row through Galvin, Swayne, and Cian Nolan while Wicklow also replied with three when McGraynor pointed his first from play and Jackson converted a two-point free. Jackson was called upon once more but down the other end to deny Galvin a goal scoring opportunity. Wicklow set up a speedy attack and Liam O’Neill was in the face of Byron but another fabulous save from Byron retained his clean sheet.
Laois slipped up and breached the three up rule which allowed Jackson to point third two-point free for his side. McGraynor and Darcy both raised white flags from placed balls to narrow the gap to eight. Paul Kingston had a one-on-one opportunity, but Jackson denied him, O’Carroll picked up the loose ball and pointed his sixth.
Dean Healy stepped up and fired over a two-pointer while Swayne replied. Darcy and Kingston traded frees while Eoin Murtagh and Kingston (free) also exchanged scores to bring the game to a conclusion. Laois took a seven-point win in what could have a lot more if the scoring goal opportunities were converted.
Evan O’Carroll 1-6 (1tp), Matthew Byron 0-4 (1tpf, 0-4 45s), Ronan Coffey (1tp) and Pa Kirwan 0-3 each, Paul Kingston (frees) and Kevin Swayne 0-2 each, Daragh Galvin, Robert Tyrrell, and Cian Nolan 0-1 each.
Mark Jackson 0-6 (3 tpfs), Oisin McGraynor (0-2 frees) and Eoin Darcy (frees) 0-3 each, Dean Healy (2p), Eoin Murtagh (2p), and Mark Kenny 0-2 each, Joe Prendergast 0-1.
Matthew Byron (Courtwood); Jack Lacey (St Joseph’s), Trevor Collins (Graiguecullen), Alex Mohan (Portarlington); Paddy O'Sullivan (Portarlington), Aaron McEvoy (Ballyroan-Abbey), Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise); Rob Tyrrell (Courtwood), Conor Heffernan (Killeshin); Ciaran Burke (Crettyard), Ronan Coffey (Portarlington), Pa Kirwan (Emo); Cian Nolan (Park-Ratheniska), Darragh Galvin (Portarlington), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard).
Simon Fingleton (Park-Ratheniska) for Lacey (15 mins), Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen) for Galvin (48 mins), Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington) for McEvoy (52 mins), Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen) for Nolan (54 mins), Niall Corbet (Clonaslee St Manman's) for Kirwan (61 mins).
Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Conall O’Gallchobhair, Gavin Fogarty; Jacques McCall, Matt Nolan, Jonathan Carlin; Dean Healy, Cathal Baker; Jack Hardy, Padraig O’Toole, Christopher O’Brien; Oisin McGraynor, Mark Kenny, Eoin Darcy.
Joe Prendergast for O’Gallchobhair (30 mins), Conor Fee for Baker and Liam O'Neill for Hardy (Both HT), Eoin Murtagh for McCall (48 mins), Paidi Kavanagh for Kenny (65 mins).
Barry Tierney (Dublin).
