Limerick 6-29
Laois 1-12

JOHN FITZGIBBON SHOT 1-14 for Limerick as they trounced a hapless Laois in their Allianz League Division 1B encounter at the Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick were already 3-15 to 0-6 up at half-time after they hit 1-3 without reply early. Barry Nash was a late replacement for the injured Declan Hannon, and he scored the first point, and then the goal after seven minutes.

PJ Scully, also a late change for Laois, got their first from a free soon after and although Ryan Mullaney added another, Limerick were utterly dominant.

Nash made his tally 1-2 by the 16th minute and after Scully brought the scores back to 1-7 to 0-4, Limerick put the game beyond doubt.

Nash slotted his second goal in the 27th minute, and he relayed to John Fitzgibbon for Limerick’s third goal two minutes later.

Limerick had hit Laois for 2-7 before PJ Scully put over a couple of frees and Fitzgibbon rounded off the scoring for the half.

Nash was taken off at half-time as both sides un-loaded their benches early, and Limerick stayed in charge. Graeme Mulcahy bagged his goal, and Limerick’s fourth in the ninth minute of the second-half.

Pat Ryan scored their fifth goal with time running out. Scully kept ticking away for Laois and he grabbed a deserved consolation before Michael Ryan got Limerick’s sixth.

Scorers for Limerick: J Fitzgibbon 1-14 (0-9f, 0-1 sideline), B Nash 2-2, G Mulcahy 1-1, P Browne 0-4, T Morrissey 0-4, P Ryan 1-0, M Ryan 1-0, K O’Brien 0-2, G O’Mahony 0-1, D Byrnes 0-1 (0-1f).

Scorers for Laois: PJ Scully 1-5 (0-4f), C Dwyer 0-3, R Mullaney 0-1, C Collier 0-1, R King 0-1, S Maher 0-1.

LIMERICK

1. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)

2. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Seanie O’Brien (Patrickswell)

5. Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock)
6. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
7. Seamus Hickey (Murroe Boher)

8. Pat Ryan (Doon)
9. Paul Browne (Bruff)

10. Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock)
11. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
12. John Fitzgibbon (Adare)

13. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
15. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell)
26. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

Subs:

25. Michael Ryan (Murroe Boher) for Nash (35 mins)
22. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s) for O’Brien (35)
18. Wayne McNamara (Adare) for Byrnes (45)
23. James Ryan (Garryspillane) for O’Mahony (51)
21. Barry O’Connell (Kildimo Pallaskenry) for Browne (59)

LAOIS

16. Eoin Reilly (St Lazerian’s Abbeyleix)

2. Joe Phelan (Camross)
3. Darren Maher (Clough Ballacolla)
4. Cahir Healy (Portlaoise)

5. Leigh Bergin (Shanahoe)
6. Neil Foyle (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton)
7. Ryan Mullaney (Castletown)

12. Patrick Purcell (Rathdowney Errill)
9. Ciaran Collier (Camross)

10. Charles Dwyer (Ballinakill)
13. Stephen Maher (Clough Ballacolla)
8. Matthew Whelan (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton)

24. Willie Dunphy (Clough Ballacolla)
11. Willie Hyland (Clough Ballacolla)
22. PJ Scully (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton)

Subs:

17. Tom Delaney (Clough Ballacolla) for Bergin (35 mins)
15. Ross King (Rathdowney Errill) for Purcell (35)
20. John Walsh (Ballinakill) for Foyle (35)
18. Oisin Carroll (St Lazerian’s Abbeyleix) for J Phelan (48)
26. Colm Stapleton (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton) for W Dunphy (63)

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).

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