Waterford 3-21
Laois 0-12

Tomás McCarthy reports from the Fraher Field

PAURIC MAHONY SCORED a spectacular 1-14 (1-5 from play) as Waterford outclassed Laois in the second period to move to the summit of Division 1B last night.

The Déise outscored the visitors by 3-10 to 0-4 after the restart at the Fraher Field as Shane Bennett, Mahony and Thomas Connors all raised green flags.

Mahony was simply awesome during the second-half as Derek McGrath’s side cut loose in front of 1,200 supporters at Fraher Field. The speedy Bennett also caught the eye on his first league start and he shot 1-1.

Laois imposed their game plan in the opening half as they dropped Stephen Maher back as a sweeper. The sides were tied seven times in a tactical battle. Free takers Pauric Mahony (0-7) and Zane Keenan (0-5) dominated the scoring. The Déise wriggled free towards the tail end of the half with three unanswered points.

Mahony resumed his scoring spree during a lop-sided second period. He added three brisk singles, including two from open play. Laois were reduced to fourteen men when Charles Dwyer received his second yellow on 49 minutes for a high challenge on Tadhg De Burca.

Three minutes later, a glorious delivery from Jake Dillon found Shane Bennett. On his first league start, the Ballysaggart teenager showed clever footwork and lashed a shot to the top corner beyond Enda Rowland (1-15 to 0-9).

On 59 minutes, Shane O’Sullivan and Michael Walsh combined before Mahony pulled to the net. With his first involvement, Thomas Connors’ deflected effort rattled the rigging eight minutes from time. Waterford travel to Offaly in a fortnight with three points on the board.

Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 1-14 (9fs); S Bennett 1-1; T Connors 1-0; A Gleeson 0-2, B O’Halloran, M Walsh, D Breathnach, S O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Laois: Z Keenan 0-9 (9fs); P Purcell, W Hyland, R King 0-1 each.

WATERFORD

1. Stephen O’Keeffe

2. Shane Fives
3. Barry Coughlan
4. Noel Connors

5. Tadhg De Burca
6. Austin Gleeson
7. Philip Mahony

8. Jamie Barron
9. Tom Devine

10. Kevin Moran
11. Pauric Mahony
21. Shane Bennett

13. Brian O’Halloran
14. Michael Walsh
15. Michael Kearney

Subs
Jake Dillon for Kearney (H-T)
Shane O’Sullivan for Devine (45)
Paudie Prendergast for Fives (50)
Donie Breathnach for S Bennett (60)
Thomas Connors for Pauric Mahony (62).

LAOIS

1. Enda Rowland

2. John A Delaney
3. Cahir Healy
4. Brian Stapleton

5. Joe Fitzpatrick
6. Matt Whelan
7. Dwane Palmer

8. Joe Campion
9. Paddy Purcell

10. Willie Hyland
11. Tommy Fitzgerald
12. Charles Dwyer

13. Stephen Maher
14. Zane Keenan
15. Ross King

Subs
C Stapleton for Maher (27)
PJ Scully for Campion (H-T)
C Dunne for C Stapleton (52)
J Purcell for Fitzgerald (63)

- This article was first published on 21 February at 9.15pm

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