Laois hurlers off to a flyer with league victory over Down

Laois commenced their first NHL Division 2 campaign in over a decade with a hard-fought victory over Down at home in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

Debutant Jer Quinlan shone for the hosts, contributing 1-3 from play, while Willie Dunphy and Aaron Dunphy combined for six in the first half.

LAOIS 2-18

DOWN 0-17

Along with a potent attack times, Laois’ defensive unit was top notch, with Liam O’Connell staking his claim to the full-back spot with an impervious performance.

It was a much improved Down team than the one that received a 31-point defeat in Portlaoise in the Joe McDonagh Cup last April. Tim Prenter was excellent at corner forward, hitting four point from play whilst also being denied a goal thanks to a brilliant save by Enda Rowland.

Laois held a seven-point lead at half time thanks to a late flurry of three scores as they struggled to shake off the visitors early in the half.

Down came out like a team possessed in the second half and hit Laois for five points in a row. Laois managed just two points in the opening 30 minutes of the second half but again an impressive end to the half, including a goal from Mark Dowling, saw them win by seven.

Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher gave Laois a two point lead within the opening minute of the game and despite a quick reply from Finn Turpin it was all looking good for the hosts as Willie Dunphy and Maher both struck in response.

Pearse Og McCrickard opened his account for Down from a free on 10 minutes and Jer Quinlan quickly replied with his first NHL point.

Matt Conlon traded points with Laois captain Aaron Dunphy before Quinlan found the net to put Laois six ahead after great work by Mark Dowling to create the opportunity.

Down started to find their feet and hit three of the next four through McCrickard and Eoghan Sands, with a second Aaron Dunphy point sandwiched between.

Willie Dunphy launched one over from midfield and Quinlan added an equally impressive but different score as he snuck one over from the tightest of angles into the breeze that blew across the park.

Tim Prenter kept Down in reach with a brace of his own, leaving four between them.

Laois finished the half strongly as Tom Cuddy laced over a point on the run, first of three in succession for the hosts.

Aaron and Willie Dunphy saw out the half with a couple of long range scores to put the hosts seven ahead.

Down quickly reduced the gap to two with five points early on. Prenter and McCrickard hit a brace each and Donal Hughes added the other to heap the pressure on Laois who couldn’t get going.

Quinlan eventually got their first score of the half on 45 minutes and fellow debutant Cuddy added his second five minutes later, but Down popped over two from Turpin and Daithi Sands in between.

McCrickard put a point between the sides on 54 minutes, and we wouldn’t see another score for 12 minutes.

That’s not to say it wasn’t a dramatic 12 minutes as there were two red cards produced by Chris Mooney. Willie Dunphy saw red when he connected with the helmet of Matt Conlon as he contested a ball and Mark Fisher got the line just minutes after coming on when he collided with the head of Podge Delaney.

Substitute Paul Sheehan levelled things up on 66 minutes, and that awakened Laois who would once again finish the half with a bang.

Cody Comerford became the third player to score on his league debut with a brilliant point to put Laois ahead.

There was a collective sigh of relief moments later when Mark Dowling effectively put the game to bed with a rocketed shot low into the net and the momentum was fully behind the hosts as Picky Maher saw out the game with three points from dead balls.