Laois fall just short as Galway edge four-point win in O’Moore Park

Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Phase 2 Rd 1 

Galway 1-23 

Laois 1-19 

LAOIS opened up their Leinster Tier 1 campaign with a narrow four-point loss to the hands of Galway in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this afternoon.

Laois will take a lot of positives from the defeat as they were the better team for large period of the second half.

The home side will rue a slow enough start and within the 12th minute they were six points down and it was looking like it was going to be a tough day.

But they never threw in the towel and will bring in lots of positives to their remaining games against Wexford and Kilkenny.

It was LJ Cuddy who was brilliant for Laois all game opened up the scoring through a free. The visitors then settled and quicky went ahead through three quick points from Gus Lohan, Anthony Poniard and Ultan O'Connor.

Cuddy added another free, but Galway added another 1-2 reply to leave them in full control after the early exchanges.

The points came from Poniard and Michael Coen before they struck for their only goal of the game. Eoghan McClearn ran through the defence and made no mistake smashing the ball into the back of the net.

Laois did respond with a goal of their own after Cuddy took a short free and played it to Callum Jones who blasted it home to narrow the gap to three points.

The home side were always chasing the game though, both teams would trade points through Poniard and a Cuddy free.

Galway would hit the next two points through Jamie Egan and Tom McAdam. Cuddy nailed two frees to keep Laois in touch.

Galway were getting scores more easily though and fired another two from Poniard, Luke Hynes responded for Laois with a brilliant score.

Galway finished the half with points from McClearn and Joey McMahon to leave it 1-12 to 1-6 at the break to Galway.

Cuddy again opened the scoring for Laois, the Galway started to pull away hitting four in a row through Coen, Ultan O'Connor and two frees from Poniard.

Both teams would trade scores on two occasions with Cuddy and Hynes hitting points for Laois while Jamie Egan and Culann Leen grabbed Galway's scores.

Laois kept battling and fought back and hit four points in a row as they started to dominate proceedings. Hynes, Tadhg Hughes and a brace from Cuddy got their side back into the game.

Again, Poniard added a brace of frees for Galway which halted the momentum of the home side.

Laois kept going and hit two more through the impressive Hynes and Killian James. But Laois badly needed a goal to really shake things up going into the last ten minutes.

Daithi Linnane responded for Galway for a badly needed point. It was all Laois now and LJ Cuddy, again showed his talent at placed balls grabbing two more points.

Poniard settled the ship for his side with a 65 and a free to end his scoring for the day. Laois kept on going and hit the last two points through Cuddy, but they would fall short after an excellent second half performance.

Next up for Laois is a home tie against Wexford which is fixed for next Saturday.

SCORERS:

Galway: Anthony Poniard 0-11 (0-1 65, 0-1f), Eoghan McClearn 1-1, Ultan O'Connor, Michael Coen and Jamie Egan 0-2 each, Gus Lohan, Tom McAdam, Joey McMahon, Culann Leen and Daithi Kinnane 0-1 each Laois: LJ Cuddy 0-13 (0-12fs), Callum Jones 1-0, Luke Hynes 0-3, Bobby O'Connor, Tadhg Hughes and Killian James 0-1 each GALWAY: Mark Walsh; Ethan White, Dillon Shaugnessy, Joey McMahon; Cathal Donoghue, Conor Lynskey, Ultan Leen; Gus Lohan, Jamie Egan; Eoghan McCleran, Ultan O'Connor, Tom McDam; Cathal Larkin, Michael Coen, Anthony Poniard.

Subs: Culann Lee for O'Connor (41m), Daithi Linnane for White (44m).

LAOIS: Ryan Keeshan (Rathdowney/Errill); Conor Hickey (Borris/Kilcotton), Jack Rice (Mountrath), Darragh Keeshan (Borris/Kilcotton); Harry Donoghue (The Harps), Dan Bowe (Rathdowney/Errill), Oisin McRedmond (Portlaoise); Luke Hynes (Camross), Rory Standish (Rathdowney-Errill); Cillin Hoey (Portarlington), Bobby O’Connor (Trumera), Killian James (St Paul’s); Oisin Gilligan (Ballyfin), LJ Cuddy (Camross), Callum Jones (Borris-Kilcotton).

Subs: Tadhg Hughes (Rosenallis) for Rory Standish (ht), Rian Dwyer (Ballinakill) for Rice (38m), Jerry O'Connell (Abbeyleix) for Jones (41m), Eoin O'Loughlin (Ballyfin) for Darragh Keeshan (53m).

Referee: Dean Alford