First half energy and direction faded in inferior seccond half display

LAOIS came into this game with momentum and purpose following their opening round win over Waterford, but they left Aughrim with plenty to reflect on after a second-half showing that never truly sparked into life.

The conditions were in their favour early on, with a useful breeze at their backs in the first half. For long periods before the break, they looked confident and composed. Damon Larkin was heavily involved again, showing creativity and accuracy, while Ronan Coffey chipped in with a couple of well-taken scores. At half-time, a two-point lead felt like a solid return.

However, after the restart, the energy and direction that had been evident in the first half seemed to fade. Laois struggled to get a grip on possession and allowed Wicklow to grow into the game. The hosts were sharper in the tackle, more decisive in the middle third, and far more economical in front of the posts.

The absence of top scorer Mark Barry, who missed out through injury, was always likely to have an impact. Without him, Laois lacked a consistent outlet in attack. While players like Larkin and Coffey continued to battle, they didn’t get enough support or clean ball in dangerous positions during the second period. The result was just six points from five different scores across 35 minutes of football.

Credit must go to Wicklow. Oisín McGraynor and Dean Healy were key figures in their comeback, while goalkeeper Mark Jackson gave a masterclass in dead-ball accuracy. They played with real purpose in the second half and took full advantage when Laois went through a long scoreless spell. A run of six unanswered points turned the game firmly in their favour, and although Laois showed flickers of a response late on, they never quite looked like regaining control.

There were still positives to take. Laois defended bravely on several occasions, with Killian Roche making a crucial save to deny a likely goal. Larkin’s work rate and movement continued to cause problems, and Ronan Coffey stood up when needed from placed balls.

But ultimately, Laois will know that more was required over the full 70 minutes. This result doesn’t undo the good work from Round 1, but it does serve as a reminder of how fine the margins are in this competition. The challenge now is to regroup and respond.

With Offaly next up, there is still every chance to finish top of the group. To do so, Laois will need to produce a much more complete performance. The ability is there, but finding that consistency will be key in the weeks ahead.