Laois cruise to victory over Carlow in Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship

The Laois U-20 hurlers have made it two from two in this year's Leinster Championship with a comfortable victory over Carlow in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this evening.

The win for Laois has secured their place in a preliminary quarter-final with Carlow yet to register a point in the campaign so far.

Laois 3-27

Carlow 0-14

Oneills.com Leinster Under-20 Hurling Championship Tier 2 Group 2 Round 2

Carlow got the game's first score in the fifth minute as Dylan Townsend pointed a free before Laois laid down their marker on the contest. Bobby Murphy got Laois' first white flag as he exchanged hand-passes with Philip Tynan before dissecting the posts.

Cillian Dunne slotted over his first free of the game before Jer Quinlan capitalized on a poor Carlow puck-out to get his first of the game. Townsend pointed his second free as Carlow were wasteful in possession as they racked up a wide tally.

Laois pulled away soon after as they fired over six unanswered points. Dunne pointed three frees while Jer Quinlan raised two white flags. Midfielder Bobby Murphy then went on a mazy run up-field before The Harps man put the sliotar over the black spot.

Townsend got Carlow's third point from another placed ball. Laois hit the front again with 1-2 without reply. Dunne would get his first point from play as well as a point from a free. The first Laois goal came as Colin Byrne went a super run before the Quinlan cousins combined as Jer set up Noah Quinlan to rattle the Carlow net.

Carlow's only scoring threat was through frees as Townsend got his fourth of the contest. The game would be all but over before half-time as Laois put Carlow to the sword. Cody Comerford, Colin Byrne and Noah Quinlan all pointed for Laois while Byrne got Laois' second goal as he turned fast on his feet and blasted the ball beyond Darragh Byrne in the Carlow net.

Laois ended the half with another three scores as full-back Joe Pearson, Jer Quinlan and Dunne (free) all dissecting the Carlow posts. Laois holding a comfortable lead of 2-17 to 0-4 at the break.

Dunne got the scoring underway in the second period as he got his eighth and ninth points of the contest with two placed balls. Carlow would finally get their first score from play as Donagh Murphy split the posts. Jer Quinlan would take his tally to five points with a well-taken score.

Murphy took his tally to two points with Dunne getting his tenth point in reply for Laois. Townsend pointed his fifth placed ball for Carlow with Dunne replying with a free of his own. Carlow were struggling for scores from play as Townsend pointed another free for the away side. Townsend would take his overall tally to seven points with his first point from open play. 

The game began to fizzle out as Dunne pointed yet another score for Ollie Hally's men while Evan Kealy pointed for the away side. Laois still holding a comfortable lead as the clock reached the 50 minute mark. Townsend pointed his eighth score of the contest as both sides knew the result was gone beyond doubt. 

Evan Kealy took over the free-taking from Townsend after he was substituted off with the half-forward pointing two frees. Laois would raise their third green flag as a long ball in from Padraig Brennan was missed by the Carlow keeper as the sliotar rolled over the line.

Laois finished the game with a flurry of points as Dunne pointed from play and from a free. Padraig Brennan took his tally to 1-1 from the bench with Murphy getting a score back for Carlow. Brian Duggan got the game's final score as Laois ran out comfortable winners in the end. Laois finish their group stage campaign on Saturday April 15 against Kerry in Portlaoise.