Job done as Laois open Tailteann Cup campaign with victory over Waterford

Laois opened their Tailteann Cup campaign with a nine-point win over Waterford at Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday afternoon. 11 scores on the trot in the first half, which included a pair of two-pointers was enough to seal the deal on the day.

One concern for Laois will be the hamstring injury that Mark Barry suffered in the first-half, which forced him off at the break.

Laois 0-28

Waterford 1-16

Niall Corbet kicked Laois' first point of the 2025 Tailteann Cup after great play between Ronan Coffey and Mark Barry. Waterford's first chance for a score almost ended up in the back of the net, but Ben Dempsey got back to clear the ball off the line from a Ciaran Walsh effort. Ronan Coffey and Cathal Lee (free) after a Mark Barry foul put Laois ahead three points to nil with three minutes on the clock.

Waterford dominated the next few minutes and went ahead thanks to five points from Jason Curry. He slotted over a normal free before kicking over the game's first two-pointer from another free. He would soon kick a second two-pointer after Ronan Coffey failed to let Waterford take a solo and go. Ben Dempsey pointed off his left as did Mark Barry to level the sides at five points each after 14 minutes. Michael O'Brien pointed from a placed ball to put Waterford ahead again, but that was as good as it got for the Munster side.

Laois went on to score the next 11 points without reply. Brian Byrne, Coffey, Corbet and Barry got the first four within 90 seconds. Waterford were then found guilty of not letting Laois play on from a mark, which allowed Killian Roche to come forward to slot a two-point free between the posts. Barry caught an attacking advanced mark but missed his effort from play. He kicked over the resulting mark. Byrne took his tally to two points before Cathal Lee kicked over the score of the game with a savage two-pointer. Coffey pointed a free while Damon Larkin scored as Laois now led 0-17 to 0-6 after 31 minutes.

Waterford hit Laois with a sucker punch before the break as a free from Jason Curry dropped short into the square and Ciaran Walsh fisted the ball into the Laois net. Niall Corbet was then shown a black card, but it mattered little as Lee and another free, from Barry, saw Laois go into the dressing rooms ahead 0-19 to 1-7. Conor Murray got a late point for Waterford, their first from play.

Mark Barry went off injured at half-time, which meant that Killian Roche had to kick the frees off the left for Laois. Laois captain Byrne kicked another point for Justin McNulty's side. The next eight scores were traded as Kevin Swayne, Michael Doran, Seamus Lacey and Roche (free) pointed for Laois while Murray raised a white flag and an orange flag for Waterford. Jason Curry added two points to his and Waterford's tally from frees. The second one was reduced to one after his two-point effort was touched over the bar by Roche.

Lee almost got a goal for Laois, but his shot from a narrow angle rattled the Waterford crossbar. Jason Curry took his tally to 10 points for Waterford after he pointed a normal free and a third two-point free of the game. Shaun Fitzpatrick, Doran and Lee all added a point each for Laois before Jason Curry ended the game with a free for Waterford.

Laois travel to Aughrim next weekend to take on Wicklow in round two.