Laois GAA hurlers show promise despite heavy loss to Tipperary in challenge match

Tipperary and Laois faced off on Tuesday evening in Templemore for a challenge match in aid of Mary's Meals.

In terms of the game itself, there was never really any contest to speak of as Tipperary pulled away from Laois from the very start, but new Laois manager Tommy Fitzgerald will have been happy with some aspects of his side's performance.

Tipperary 4-39

Laois 0-18

Goals from Joe Fogarty, Darragh McCarthy, and Andrew Ormond had the home side in a commanding position early in the half with Laois having only scored seven points at the break. 

The second-half goal came from Dylan Walsh as Laois hit some nice scores as they brought on more experienced campaigners in the form of Paddy Purcell, Willie Dunphy, and James Keyes, but the Tipperary workrate and hunger for score never quelled as they treated the crowd on show to a scoring bonanza.

The result will not be of much consequence at this early stage of the year with Laois set to compete in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League and the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Laois will get their Division 1B campaign underway against Westmeath on Saturday, January 25 in TEG Cuscak Park, Mullingar from 2pm.

Scorers: Tipperary: Andrew Ormond 1-4, Darragh McCarthy (1-3, 0-2f), Joe Fogarty 1-2, Oisin O’Donoghue 0-5, Jason Forde (0-5, 0-3f), Jake Morris 0-4, Dylan Walsh 1-1, Conor Bowe, Conor Stakelum 0-3 each, Sam O’Farrell, Billy Seymour, Alan Tynan 0-2 each, Conor Martin, Craig Morgan, Bryan O’Mara all 0-1 each.

Laois: PJ Scully 0-5 (0-4, 0-1f), Colm Byrne and Charles Dwyer 0-2 each, Aaron Dunphy, Éanna Lyons, James Keyes, Cormac Byrne, Ben Conroy, Noah Quinlan, Willie Dunphy, Jordan Walshe, Cormac Hogan, Paddy Purcell all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Bryan O’Mara; Sam O’Farrell, Brian McGrath, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Alan Tynan; Jake Morris, Conor Martin, Joe Fogarty; Andrew Ormond, Conor Bowe, Darragh McCarthy.

Subs used: Gavin O’Halloran, Dylan Walsh, Aaron O’Halloran, David Nolan, Conor Stakelum, Oisin O’Donoghue, Jason Forde, Billy Seymour.

Laois: Enda Rowland; Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Donnacha Hartnett; Podge Delaney, Tom Cuddy, Fiachra C-Fennell; Aidan Corby, Jordan Walshe; David Dooley, Tomas Keyes, Aaron Dunphy; Colin Byrne, Jer Quinlan, Charles Dwyer.

Subs: Cathal Dunne, Ciaran Flynn, Liam O’Connell, Noah Quinlan, David O’Brien, James Keyes, Cormac Byrne, John Lennon, Ben Conroy, PJ Scully, Willie Dunphy, Paddy Purcell.

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)