Galway 3-12 Laois 1-10
Having lost the previous three meetings between the sides, visitors Galway were in no mood to lose again as they turned in a devastating first half performance to simply rout their hosts at O’Moore Park on Sunday.
Laois under new management were hoping for a good start and when Evan O’Carroll was fouled in the small square after two minutes and a penalty was awarded, they looked on course for exactly that.
However when the new Galway 'keeper deflected the ball away for a 45 the momentum was firmly with the visitors. Five minutes later full forward Adrian Varley struck for the game's opening goal, having already opened the scoring with the game's first point thirty seconds in.
Laois were in trouble again after 20 minutes when a defence splitting move saw Damien Comer hammer the ball past the advancing Graham Brody in the Laois goal. At that stage Galway had 2-4 to their name and the only Laois response was a point by Donie Kingston from a placed ball in the 13th minute.
Laois improved in the closing minutes but a great point by team captain Gary O’Donnell left the visitors leading 2-6 to 0-1 at the interval and Laois facing the elements on their return.
Laois made four changes in personnel and they did show signs of improvement in the early stages of the second half. Galway posted three unanswered points before a great Laois movement resulted in substitute Daniel O'Reilly blasting the ball to the Galway net, followed by points from Donie Kingston and Gary Walsh.
Galway responded with a third goal after the Laois defence got into a tangle and Comer rose highest to fist the ball past the advancing keeper. This was a blow to an improving home team, and while they did add a succession of points Galway always had plenty in reserve and went home comfortable winners by eight points. Laois now journey to Armagh on Saturday next and Galway will look forward to a visit from Tyrone.
LAOIS: G Brody; R Kehoe, M Timmons, D Seale; D Strong (0-1), P Cotter, G Dillon; K Meaney, J O'Loughlin; J Farrell, D Kingston (0-3), N Murphy; P Cahillane (0-3), E O'Carroll (0-1), A Farrell; Subs K Lillis for D Seale 23M, D O'Reilly (1-0) for J O'Loughlin inj h/t, T Collins (0-1) for J Farrell h/t, G Walsh (0-1) for A Farrell h/t, P Kingston for N Murphy h/t, D O'Connor for G Dillon 60m
GALWAY: T Dolan; D Wynne (0-1), D Kyne, E Kerin; L Silke, G O'Donnell (0-2), J Heaney (0-1); P Conroy (0-2), F Curran; T Flynn, E Hoare (0-2), E Tierney; D Comer (2-1), A Varley (1-1), E Branagan (0-2); Subs S Walsh for E Brannigan 50m, P Cooke for E Hoare 56m, P Mannion for A Varley (Black Card) 61m, A Kyne for E Kerin68m, S Denvir for J Heaney 68m
Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down).
