Laois 3-14 Galway 0-15 Laois hurlers defeated Galway in the final round of the league to record their first victory over the Tribesmen since 1984. The home side lay the foundations for victory in the opening quarter of the game.

After Rory Gantley had opened the scoring for Galway with a point from a free after two minutes, Laois hit back with two well taken goals by 19 year old Tommy Fitzgerald, the first in the sixth minute after a Galway defender had failed to clear a free. Two minutes later Fitzgerald struck again when he rounded a defender and gave Galway goalkeeper Liam Donoghue no chance.

In the 17th minute Laois full forward Liam Tynan breezed through the Galway defence to score his side's third goal to leave three clear goals between the sides.

Galway produced their best hurling in the second quarter with a succession of points from Kenneth Burke, Mark and Alan Kerins, to leave Laois leading 3-6 to 0-9 at half time.

Laois stretched their advantage with three points in as many minutes before Galway responded again with points from Mark Kerins and Burke. Two in a row from James Young left Laois 10 points ahead with 15 minutes to go and they coasted to victory form there.

LAOIS: J Lyons; L Mahon, Pakie Cuddy, T Phelan; C Cuddy, Paul Cuddy, M McEvoy; J Young (0-8), D Rooney; J Phelan (0-1), P Mahon, E Meagher (0-2); L Wynne (0-2), L Tynan (1-1), T Fitzgerald (2-0). Subs: F O'Sullivan for P Mahon; E Bergin for J Young; E Fennelly for L Wynne; D Culleton for D Rooney.

GALWAY: L Donoghue; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; T O'Regan, J Conroy, B Mahoney (0-1); R Gantley (0-4), K Gavin; R Murray (0-1), M Kerins (0-3), K Broderick; A Kerins (0-2), O Fahey (0-2), K Burke (0-2). Subs: A O'Donnell for S Kavanagh; D Tierney for K Gavin; E Lynch for J Conroy.

Referee: G Harrington (Cork).