Louth 1-10 Laois 3-9
When the chances presented themselves, Laois showed the greater efficiency in front of the posts to see off Louth in the opening Division Three contest in Ardee.
Mickey Harte’s side would waste four goal chances alone in the first half and a further two in the second as Laois made the hosts pay early in the second half with a match winning 2-3 to no reply.
Gary Walsh came into Billy Sheehan’s side late at the top of the right and his goals in both halves proved crucial. His first a well finished counter attacking move, which broke Louth spirits after they started the half brighter with the substantial wind at their backs.
Walsh’s second killed the game off in the 50th minute just minutes after wingback Sean O’Flynn had just punished Louth again after Evan Lowry intercepted a Liam Jackson pass from a short kick out.
In between, Louth forced Danny Bolger into a memorable debut ,with two saves but despite the misses Louth nudged themselves 0-8 to 1-4 ahead at the turn, thanks to five mammoth free’s from Sam Mulroy.
Then came the match winning blitz from Laois, substitute Ciaran Byrne did find the net for Louth but Laois had well secured the league points by then.
Louth: M McEneaney; D Corcoran, D McKenny, N Sharkey; L Grey, S Healy, J Clutterbuck; B Duffy (0-1), C Early (0-1); C Downey (0-1), E Callaghan, C McKeever; J Hughes, S Mulroy (0-7, six frees), D Nally. Subs: L Jackson for Clutterbuck (27), C Byrne (1-0) for Hughes (27), R Burns for Nally (halftime), D Campbell for Healy (halftime), C Grimes for Grey (44 inj).
Laois: D Bolger; J Kelly, T Collins, A Mohan; S O'Flynn, J O'Loughlin, G Dillon; K Lillis, J Finn; B Byrne, E Lowry (0-3, one free), P O'Sullivan; M Barry (0-3, two frees), E O'Carroll, G Walsh (2-2, one free, one mark). Subs: R Munnelly for Walsh (58), B Daly for Lillis (58), Cormac Murphy for O'Sullivan (58), A Farrell (0-1) for O'Flynn (63), C Fennessy for Byrne (69).
Referee: Seán Laverty (Antrim)
