Limerick 1-25

Laois 0-18

LIMERICK EASED TO an opening round win over Laois in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League earlier this afternoon.

In the end John Kiely’s men had 10 points to spare over their Leinster opponents in the Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick were 1-12 to 0-7 ahead by half time and put another two points between the teams over the course of the second half.

Watched by just 1450, respective free-takers Aaron Gillane and Ross King led the scoring charts with 11-points each, from play, frees and 65s.

While Ben Conroy had Laois off the mark early, it was Limerick that build a 0-4 to 0-2 lead before the 10th minute mark with Gillane and Cian Lynch on the mark for John Kiely’s team.

Patrick Purcell hit back for Laois but again Gillane (free) and Lynch replied and it was double scores 0-6 to 0-3.

The game’s only goal came in the 22nd minute when Gillane teed up Gearoid Hegarty and he made no mistake. Hegarty scored 2-6 in this fixture last season in O’Moore Park.

The goal had Limerick 1-7 to 0-5 clear and points from Paul Browne and Tom Morrissey ensured the interval lead over Eamonn Kelly’s men.

In the second half, Browne, Morrissey and Barry O’Connell had points from play for Limerick within 10-minutes but Laois kept in touch with four pointed from placed balls by the accurate King.

Then five of the next six scores all but sealed the result for Limerick, who led 1-20 to 0-12 with 15-minutes to play. Gillane, Morrissey and sub David Reidy accounted for the points with only a Willie Dunphy reply.

Laois did steady and King, Purcell and sub Aidan Corby pointed but they didn’t threaten for the goal they required.

Limerick finished on top with Browne, Gillane and Reidy points.

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-11 (6f, 2 65), Gearoid Hegarty 1-0, Paul Browne, Tom Morrissey and David Reidy 0-3 each, Cian Lynch and Diarmaid Byrnes 0-2 each, Barry O’Connell 0-1.

Scorers for Laois: Ross King 0-11 (6f, 2 ‘65), Enda Rowland (2f) and Patrick Purcell 0-2 each, Ben Conroy, Willie Dunphy and Aidan Corby 0-1 each.

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
3. Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher)
4. Richie English (Doon)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)
7. Paddy O’Loughlin (Kilmallock)

8. Paul Browne (Bruff)
9. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)

10. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
11. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
12. Barry O’Connell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
15. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patricks).

Subs

19. Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen) for Barry O’Connell (46mins)
20. Barry Murphy (Doon) for Gearoid Hegarty (46mins)
22. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) for Seamus Flanagan (52mins).

Laois

1. Enda Rowland (Abbeyleix)

2. Lee Cleere (Clough Ballacolla)
3. Leigh Bergin (Shanahoe)
4. Podge Lawlor (Ballinakill)

5. Jack Kelly (Rathdowney-Errill)
6. Matthew Whelan (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton)
7. Eric Killeen (Rathdowney Errill)

8. Paddy Purcell (Rathdowney-Errill)
9. James Ryan (Rathdowney-Errill)

10. Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom
18. Sean Downey (Ballinakill)
12. Cian Taylor (Portlaoise)

13. Ross King (Rathdowney-Errill)
14. Neil Foyle (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton)
15. Paddy McCane (Rathdowney-Errill)

Subs

17. Donncha Hartnett (Mountmellick) for Lee Cleere (20mins)
19. Willie Dunphy (Clough Ballacolla) for Paddy McKane (31mins)
23. Colm Stapleton (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton) for Jack Kelly (h-t)
21. Aidan Corby (Clough Ballacolla) for Sean Downey (50mins)
20. Stephen Bergin (Clough Ballacolla) for Cian Taylor (57mins)

Referee: Colum Canning (Antrim).

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):