Donegal 3-11 Laois 0-5

DONEGAL COLLECTED their second brace of points when easily accounting for Laois at Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon, yesterday.

In a one-sided first-half Donegal led by 1-6 to 0-2 at the break, the goal coming on nine minutes when a long ball from Kevin Cassidy was flicked on by Michael Murphy and Conall Dunne was all alone to fire home from close range.

Michael Murphy caused Laois problems at full forward and Barry Monaghan was impressive in a new role at midfield while Kevin Cassidy, playing his 100th game for Donegal, drove his side on from half-back.

Laois, short a number of players due to suspensions and Portlaoise’s involvement in the All-Ireland club championships, had their first attack on 21 minutes and a free from MJ Tierney was waved wide but was later awarded after the intervention of the linesman.

Laois did put up brief resistance early in the second half when they hit three points by the 46th minute, but they failed to score after that.

Donegal hit back with four points in five minutes and then struck for two goals in two minutes. Corner-back James Keaney got the first, seconds before he was called ashore, and two minutes later Michael Murphy palmed the second before he, too, was replaced.

Apart from Brendan Quigley, Colm Begley and Donal Kingston, the Leinster side were totally dominated all over the field.

There will be much tougher games ahead for Donegal but with full points from their opening two games, they will travel to Newbridge to play Kildare with some confidence in three weeks’ time.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; J Keaney (1-0), N McGee, K Lacey; A Thompson, F McGlynn, K Cassidy; N Gallagher, B Monaghan (0-1); C Dunne (1-0), D Walsh (0-1), S Griffin (0-2); C McFadden (0-4, two frees), M Murphy (1-3,three frees), A Hanlon. Subs: M Maguire for Keaney 57 mins, E Kelly for Murphy 59 mins, F McNulty for Dunne 63 mins, G Concarr for Hanlon 63 mins, M McGowan for McGlynn 66 mins.

LAOIS: C Gorman; J Scully, C Ryan, P McMahon; D Strong, M Timmins, C Begley (0-1); B Quigley, C Óg Greene; C Coss, P Lawlor, N Donoher; MJ Tierney (0-1, free), D Kingston (0-2), D Carroll (0-1). Subs:D Miller for Coss half-time, R Munnelly for Carroll 50 mins, D Flaherty for Lawlor 61 mins, M Dowling for Gorman.

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).