Clare...7-19 Laois...2-10: Tony Griffin scored four goals as Clare outclassed Laois in the All-Ireland qualifier at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, on Saturday.
Though they got the opening score, a David Cuddy point after a minute, Laois found themselves 14 points behind after only 17 minutes. They didn't get their second point until the 22nd minute, by which time Clare had scored four goals and three points.
Niall Gilligan began the rout, when he drilled to the Laois net after five minutes following a good run by Griffin.
Griffin himself beat Laois goalkeeper Kevin Galvin three times before the break, in the 12th, 13th and 17th minutes. The first came as a result of a rebound after Galvin had saved from Gilligan. The second goal also involved Gilligan and Daithí O'Connell, while the third followed a pass from Frank Lohan.
By half-time it was 4-9 to 1-4, the Laois goal coming when corner forward Tommy Fitzgerald's shot deflected off Brian Lohan's hurley to deceive goalkeeper David Fitzgerald.
From the restart Clare picked up where they left off, Gilligan notching another goal inside a minute. Clare's David Forde and Laois's James Young exchanged points before Tony Carmody had another Clare goal in the 42nd minute. Carmody was introduced to the Clare attack at the beginning of the half, with Frank Lohan reverting to full back in place of his injured brother Brian.
Laois did manage a few scores and Tommy Fitzgerald grabbed another goal after Damien Culleton laid off a perfect pass following a fine solo run.
Anthony Daly's men grabbed their seventh goal, and Tony Griffin's fourth, four minutes from time on a day when Clare by no means looked the finished article.
Laois were poor, and if Clare are to advance further, they will need greater cohesion.
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; T Holland, B Lohan, G O'Grady; D Hoey, S McMahon (capt, 0-1, 65), A Markham; C Lynch, D McMahon; F Lohan (0-1), G Quinn (0-1), J O'Connor; N Gilligan (2-10, 0-6 frees), T Griffin (4-1), D O'Connell. Subs: D Forde (0-3) for O'Connell, T Carmody (1-0) for B Lohan, C Forde for Holland, B Murphy (0-2) for O'Connor, B O'Connell for D McMahon.
LAOIS: K Galvin; C Cuddy (0-1), P Cuddy, D Rooney; J Fitzpatrick, L Tynan, M McEvoy; J Young (0-6, frees), J Walsh; C Coonan, D Walsh, E Browne; T Fitzgerald (2-1), D Cuddy (capt, 0-4), D Culleton. Subs: J Dunne (0-1) for Browne, R Jones (0-1) for J Walsh, C Brophy for Coonan, L Mahon for Rooney, P Mahon (0-1) for D Walsh.
Referee: M Haverty (Galway).
