Waterford show their class in second-half against Laois

Following a tough Division 1 opener for the Laois Senior hurlers in Thurles last weekend, Willie Maher’s men returned to O’Moore Park on Saturday evening. Davy Fitzgerald and his strong Waterford outfit were the visitors to Portlaoise.

To their credit, Laois were far more competitive this time around. An early red card from Waterford helped aid their chances, as they only trailed by a single point at half-time. However, a second half red card for Laois’ Aidan Corby cancelled out Laois’ man advantage, as Waterford finished strongly to secure the points in O’Moore Park.

Waterford 2-31

Laois 2-19

Waterford would register the first score of this league clash, as Padraig Fitzgerald placed over a free. Laois started well though and responded with the next two scores. Their captain and goalkeeper, Enda Rowland, drilled over a placed ball inside his own half before Paddy Purcell set up Ian Shanahan for the first point from play.

After that point went over, referee Sean Stack ran over to the other end of the field to consult with the two umpires either side of Enda Rowland’s goal. After a brief discussion, Stack went over to Waterford corner-forward, Michael Kiely, to issue him with a red card for an off-the-ball incident.

This completely changed the nature of the match, as Willie Maher and his men must have felt it was now possible for them to get a result from this contest. Waterford did respond well to the setback though, as Padraig Fitzgerald registered three more points to his name to help them go back ahead.

Enda Rowland now had space to find blue jerseys with his puck-outs due to Laois having the extra man. Rowland played one of his puck-outs to Paddy Purcell, with the Rathdowney-Errill man rifling over a terrific score from inside his own half.

Purcell was playing a sweeper role at the back for Laois and was the key player for Laois during the first half. Purcell intercepted a Waterford pass and picked out Tomas Keyes, with Keyes quickly handing it off to Aaron Dunphy on the run and he swung over.

Waterford went back in front thanks to a Neil Montgomery point from close-range. However, more excellent work from Purcell helped Laois win a free further up the field, with Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher sending one over.

Laois had their first sight of goal after that. The sliotar broke favourably for James Keyes but his effort was easily saved by Waterford keeper Shaun O’Brien. Ryan Mullaney did manage to slot over a point from the rebound though.

Waterford responded with the first goal of the game. Tom Barron played a short sideline into the path of Neil Montgomery. The Waterford wing-forward rode two Laois challenges before Montgomery drove a powerful shot past Rowland and into the net.

While Aaron Dunphy replied for Laois, Waterford hit the next two points through Padraig Fitzgerald (free) and Mark Fitzgerald. Laois would fire in their first goal of the game to reduce the gap back to the minimum though.

Rowland’s puck-out dropped into the Waterford square. Laois corner-forward, Martin Phelan, managed to seize the breaking ball and find his Castletown clubmate, Ryan Mullaney, who drilled it low and hard into the net.

Stephen Maher landed another free to level the score once more. Waterford’s Jack Prendergast and Laois’ Jack Kelly exchanged points before Padraig Fitzgerald put over the final score of the half for Waterford.

Laois trailed 1-9 to 1-10 at half-time, but the fact that Willie Maher’s men still had an extra man advantage meant they went into the dressing room in Portlaoise in positive spirits.

Laois had another goal chance right at the start of the second half. Paddy Purcell placed a long ball near the Waterford square where Martin Phelan managed to get a hold of it. Phelan once more found Ryan Mullaney on the run, but Mullaney’s attempt was brilliantly blocked down by Waterford’s number one, Shaun O’Brien.

Stephen Maher did send over the resulting 65’ to leave the sides level though. While Waterford corner-back Shane McNulty replied for them, Laois hit the next two points through Mullaney and ‘Picky’ Maher to take the lead.

Waterford’s Jamie Barron and Calum Lyons quickly cancelled out Laois’ advantage with a score each. Not only was Laois’ advantage on the scoreboard now gone, but their man advantage also disappeared minutes later.

Laois’ Aidan Corby sprinted over to the sideline to try and shoulder Waterford’s Neil Montgomery. However, Montgomery turned his head at the last second and Corby’s shoulder connected with Montgomery’s head. Referee Sean Stack was quick to issue the red card in Corby’s direction.

There was another twist in the match moments later though. Martin Phelan managed to find a gap in the Waterford defence and showed unselfishness to find Mullaney. He buried another shot into the back of the Waterford net.

Waterford’s Neil Montgomery and Laois’ Martin Phelan swapped points, as Laois held a two-point cushion ten minutes into the second half. However, that proved to be as good as it got for the home side, as Davy Fitzgerald’s bench power helped Waterford finish strongly for the remainder.

Rowland was caught out of his goal and Dessie Hutchinson made his may with a devastating finish to put Waterford back ahead. Neil Montgomery, substitute Austin Gleeson and Calum Lyons (two) all raised white flags to push Waterford’s lead out to five points.

While Stephen Maher replied with a point from a free for Laois, Waterford’s superstar Austin Gleeson ran amok to make sure this match was finished as a contest. Gleeson placed over three points, with fellow substitute Reuben O’Halloran also landing a score.

Laois tried hard for the remaining ten minutes, with substitute Ross King placing over two points to his name, while Liam Senior and Stephen Maher also raising white flags down the stretch.

However, Willie Maher’s men ended up on the losing side by twelve points in the end as their early hopes of an upset were well and truly dashed by Waterford in the end.