Nine unanswered scores propel Laois to Ruislip rout

Laois 1-29 

London 1-14 

LAOIS travelled overseas to McGovern Park in Ruislip where London awaited their arrival. It was a sweltering hot day making conditions immaculate but the humidity difficult.

Laois produced a polished and professional display pulling away from London with a dominant second-half performance to secure a convincing 15-point victory. After building a solid platform before half-time, the visitors cut loose after the break with a marvellous scoring spree that underlined both their quality and depth.

Scores were traded between Ronan Coffey and Joe McGill in the opening two minutes while Laois went on to pointed two in row courtesy of Paddy O’Sullivan and a free from Evan O’Carroll.

Shay Rafter pointed the home sides second score and Conor Heffernan replied before Kristian Healy also raised a white flag. A fantastic turn over from O’Sullivan on the edge of Laois’ arc allowed him to find Coffey who sent a perfect ball into the hands of O’Carroll. O’Carroll pulled a dummy on his man as well as the London goalkeeper and fired to the back of the net.

London travelled towards the Laois goal at pace, but Killian Roche pulled off a superb save after shot from Liam Murphy looked destined for goal. Two pointers were traded between the sides with Coffey pointing for the away team and McGill for London.

O’Carroll pointed his first from play while Roche pointed his first free pushing the gap to six. McGill pointed a free and Ciaran Diver split the posts, but Laois finished the half the stronger of the two pointing three in row. Roche pointed a second free while Kevin Swayne and Mikie Dempsey added their names to the scoresheet living Laois a seven-point lead at the break, 1-11 to 0-).

Tighe Barry pointed from the home side before Laois went on a scoring spree and added a further nine points to their tally. Paul Kingston raised an orange flag while O’Carroll and O’Sullivan split the posts.

Daragh Galvin took a quick sideline and found Cian Nolan who set up Kirwan to fire over a two pointer which was quickly followed by another two pointer this time from Nolan. O’Carroll pointed his sixth and Henry Walshe responded for the home side to end the spree. Rafter pointed a free before Laois took off and pointed five in a row.

Galvin pointed his first while Kingston added to his two pointer. O’Sullivan took his tally to three while Simon Fingleton added his first. Kingston struck once more to add a fourth to his name having sprung from the bench. Rafter and Fingleton exchanged scores in injury time to bring the game to a close and seal a 15-point victory for Laois and see them through to the next round which will be a home game and their opponents will be determined after Monday’s draw.

SCORERS:

Laois: Evan O’Carroll 1-6 (0-1f), Paul Kingston 0-4 (1tp), Ronan Coffey (1tp) and Paddy O’Sullivan 0-3 each, Killian Roche (0-2fs) Pa Kirwan (1tp), Cian Nolan (1tp), and Simon Fingleton 0-2 each, Kevin Swayne, Conor Heffernan, Brian Byrne, Daragh Galvin, and Mikie Dempsey 0-1 each.

London: Joe McGill 0-5 (1tp, 0-1f), Michael O’Reilly 1-0, Shay Rafter (0-1f) and Ciaran Diver 0-3 each, Henry Walsh, Tighe Barry, and Kristian Kelly 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Killian Roche (Killeshin); Jack Lacey (St Joseph’s), Trevor Collins (Graiguecullen), Alex Mohan (Portarlington); Pa Kirwan (Emo), Simon Fingleton (Park-Ratheniska), Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen); Rob Tyrrell (Courtwood), Conor Heffernan (Killeshin); Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise), Ronan Coffey (Portarlington), Paddy O’Sullivan (Portarlington); Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s), Daragh Galvin (Portarlington), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard).

Subs: Paul Kingston (Arles Killeen) for Byrne (41m), Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise) for Lacey (39m), Cian Nolan (Park/Ratheniska) for M Dempsey (49m), Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington) for O’Carroll (58m), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise) for Coffey (61m).

LONDON: Andrew Walsh; Liam Crowley, Conor O’Donohue, Sean O’Donoghue; Finbarr Crowley, Conal Gallagher, David Gouldson; Liam Gallagher, Daniel Clarke; Ciaran Diver, Joe McGill, Kristian Healy; Michael O’Reilly, Shay Rafter, James Davis.

Subs: Josh Obahor for Healy (26m), Tighe Barry for Gouldson (39m), Daniel Clarke for Murphy (48m), Henry Walsh for O’Reilly (56m), Nathan Freeman for Davis (58m).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)