Sport

Limerick retain their top-flight status

NHL Division One/Two Play-off Limerick 3-15 Laois 1-13 : Limerick secured Division One hurling next year after dismissing a …

Mon May 14 2007 - 01:00

NHL Division One/Two Play-off Limerick 3-15 Laois 1-13: Limerick secured Division One hurling next year after dismissing a brave Laois effort in a lacklustre play-off clash at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Saturday evening.

The Division Two champions were consigned to continuing in the division they topped this year.

Richie Bennis's charges steamrolled through a porous Laois rearguard in the opening quarter but complacency proved a factor for the Treaty men and instead of capitalising on their dominance they never really put Laois to the sword.

After swapping early points, Limerick rattled the Laois net after eight minutes with Andrew O'Shaughnessy latching on to Brian Geary's booming clearance and cracking his effort past goalkeeper Paddy Mullaney.

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Limerick surged further ahead with Ollie Moran first-timing Seán O'Connor's crossfield pass to the net in the 21st minute to put his side six points clear.

Laois battled gamely to bridge the gap and thanks to James Young's freetaking abilities (five frees, one sideline and two from play), Damien Fox's side trailed by just three at the break, 2-6 to 0-9.

Points from Niall Moran and O'Shaughnessy helped extend Limerick's lead to six points by the 54th minute and O'Shaughnessy's goal from a penalty in injury-time copper-fastened their victory. Laois's James Walsh netted a late consolation goal with the last puck of the game.

LIMERICK: B Murray; M O'Brien, S Lucey, M O'Riordan; P Lawlor, B Geary, M Foley; N Moran (0-1), D O'Grady (0-1); D Ryan (0-1), O Moran (1-0), M O'Brien; A O'Shaughnessy (2-8 (0-6 frees, 0-1 '65, 1-0 pen), S O'Connor (0-2), B Foley (0-1). Subs: P Tobin (0-1) for B Foley (45 mins), B Begley for O'Brien (both 45 mins); K O'Rourke for Lucey (72 mins).

LAOIS: P Mullaney, C Healy, D Rooney, C Fitzpatrick; M McEvoy, M Whelan, C Dunne; J Fitzpatrick (0-1), S Dollard, W Hyland, J Young (0-12 (0-8 frees, 0-1 side-line), J Brophy, J Phelan, T Fitzgerald, J Phelan. Subs: P Russell for Brophy (57 mins); J Walsh (1-0) for Dollard (64 mins); E Jackman for Phelan (60 mins).

Referee: R Holohan(Kildare)