League final awaits as Laois defeat Down to secure promotion to Division 1B

There’s a league final on the horizon for Laois next weekend after they brushed Down aside in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday afternoon.

Down put up a good fight on their last appearance in Portlaoise in February when they caused the hosts a scare before Laois managed to pull away in the end to win by seven points, but Saturday’s contest was much more comfortable for Willie Maher’s charges.

LAOIS 1-24

DOWN 0-13

The hosts hurled with the wind at their backs facing for Abbeyleix in the first half and after some early misfires they managed to find their range and build up a comfortable nine point lead by half time.

Given the last contest it wasn’t quite game over heading for the second half since Down would have the wind, but an early goal from Rathdowney-Errill’s Paddy Purcell went a long way to alleviating any nerves for the home crowd.

King’s clubmate Liam O’Connell had a wonderful performance in his new position at half-back, as Ryan Mullaney slotted in at full-back for the second week in a row.

Laois’ scoring prowess was spectacular once they revved up with all forwards and both midfielders registering points from play before half time.

Points for Pearse Og McCrickard and Tim Prenter initially gave Down a two-point lead as Laois saw numerous attempts drill wide.

Tomas Keyes got Laois’ first two minutes in, though he was soon matched by McCrickard again.

The hosts began to find their range and struck the next five points in succession up to the 15 minute mark. Martin Phelan and Aidan Corby started the streak with two good points and they were followed by Aaron Dunphy, Purcell and a wonder score from Jer Quinlan.

McCrickard stopped the run with a free, but Down couldn’t contain the Laois attack as David Dooley fired over the score of the game after a great interception in midfield along with points from Dunphy and Phelan.

Daithi Sands struck back for the visitors on 25 minutes and Laois responded with two in the space of a minute from Keyes and a great effort from midfield by Ross King.

A brace of frees for McCrickard stemmed the tide momentarily for Down, yet they trailed by four on 28 minutes.

A late rally in the half from the hosts saw them increase the gap to nine before half time. King slotted from midfield and Quinlan landed another excellent score after great groundwork by Phelan to assist.

Two excellent high catches from Liam O’Connell in his own half set up points for Dunphy and King and Dunphy added another free before the break to make it 0-16 to 0-7.

The second half opened with a flurry of frees – two for McCrickard and one for Dunphy before Laois put their opponents down and out with a quick 1-1.

Keyes rattled over a point after a great pass inside from Mullaney and Purcell hammered the net for a goal when he did well to win the ball on the 45 and gallop in on goal before finishing.

Laois would go on to score the next four of six, Prenter and Barry Trainor got on the sheet for Down in between braces from Dunphy and Quinlan.

As the teams introduced a raft of substitutes the intensity dissipated and the sides mustered a brace of points each in the final 15 minutes as the game crawled to the end line.

The win now sees Laois travel to Dr Cullen Park to take on Carlow on Sunday, and also seals their spot in Division 1B for 2024.