Dunphy gives Laois extra lease of life
The game started with a flurry of goals, as Willie Dunphy struck twice for Laois either side of an Aodhan McInerney double. DIT were enjoying wind advantage though, and that eventually helped them into a seven point half-time lead, 2-9 to 2-2.
It took Laois until the last minute of the game to draw level, thanks to a long range point from Matthew Whelan. They then kicked on in extra-time, as a couple of late points from Dunphy put the seal on a hard-earned victory.
Scorers for Laois: W Dunphy 2-2, J Walsh 1-0, W Hyland 0-3 (3f), N Foyle (2f), D O’Mahony 0-2 each, B Campion (f), D Peacock, M McEvoy, M Whelan 0-1 each.
Scorers for DIT: P Phelan 0-7 (5f, 1 65), A McInerney 2-1, P Hartley 0-2 (1f), D English, D Curran, C O’Shaughnessy, N Quinn 0-1 each.
LAOIS: E Reilly; C Dunne, B Stapleton, B Smith; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, B Guilfoyle; J Walsh, B Dunne; D O’Mahony, M McEvoy, W Hyland; W Dunphy, T Fitzgerald, D Peacock.
Subs: B Camprion for Stapleton (26 – inj), J Brophy for Peacock (ht), N Foyle for Hyland (65), O Houlihan for Guilfoyle (87).
DIT: F McGarry; D English, P Kelly, L Prendergast; D Curran, P Hartley, J Mulrooney; J Diviney, C O’Shaughnessy; P Phelan, M Moloney, N Quinn; P Kenny, A McInerney, P Morris.
Subs: M Schutte for Morris (15), D Tracey for Schutte (43), J McManus for Moloney Referee: G Quilty (Kilkenny)
A DEAN HIGGINS goal proved the decisive score in this lacklustre tie in Bellefield on Saturday.
Wexford stormed into a six points lead (0-8 to 0-2) after 25 minutes before NUIG found their feet and Higgins’ 31st minute goal had them a point adrift at the break (0-9 to 1-5). Though Daniel Martin Carroll extended the hosts’ lead with a point, NUIG took the initiative. Points from Niall Burke and Cormac Diviney had them level (1-7 to 0-10) after 42 minutes. And scores from Eoin Hayes, Niall Burke and Daithi Burke edged them 1-10 to 0-10 ahead. Points from Lee Chin and sub Gary Moore left the minimum separating the sides. A Niall Burke free put NUIG two clear and though Michael O’Hanlon shot a late point, the visitors held out in frenetic finish.
Scorers for Wexford: J. Leacy (2f, 1, 65), I Byrne (2f) 0-3 each; J Berry 0-2; L Chin, D M Carroll, T O’Leary, M O’Hanlon, G Moore (f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for NUIG: N Burke 0-6, 5f; D Higgins 1-0; D Burke 0-2; J P O’Connell, C Diviney, E Hayes 0-1 each.
WEXFORD: E Martin; B Kenny, B Travers, B Kehoe; W Devereux, J Leacy, J Tonks; L Chin, D O’Keeffe; D M Carroll, J Berry, T O’Leary; E Moore, J Fogarty, I Byrne.
Subs: J Guiney for O’Leary; M O’Hanlon for Carroll; G Moore for E Moore; P Doran for Byrne; T O’Leary for Fogarty.
NUIG: D Tuohy; D Magner, E Fahy, S McCormack; J Morris, D Kenny, C Diviney; J P O’Connell; P Kelly; D Burke, N Burke, R Shanahan; C Hynes, E Hayes, D Higgins.
Subs: M Kelly for Morris; S Quinlan for Hayes.
Referee: A Lagrue (Kildare).
WESTMEATH senior hurlers caused a surprise when defeating Offaly at Kinnegad yesterday.
The game got off to a controversial start when Offaly’s Shane Kelly and Westmeath’s Aonghus Clarke were sent off following an altercation just 10 seconds after the start.
Both teams put the setback behind them and Offaly, who played with the aid of a very strong wind, looked like they would go in at half-time leading 0-6 to 0-5. However, a fine injury-time goal from Brendan Murtagh saw the home side go in leading by two points.
A second Murtagh goal 10 minutes into the second-half set Westmeath up for a very impressive win.
Westmeath battled tenaciously and Offaly had to rely on free-taker Shane Dooley for the majority of their scores. But, when substitute Ger Healion was sent off for a second yellow offence in the 62nd minute, Offaly’s chances vanished.
Scorers for Westmeath: B. Murtagh (2-6, 0-4 frees), P. Dowdall (0-2), A. Mitchell (0-2, 0-1 a free, 0-1 a ’65), F. Boyle (0-1), P. Greville (0-1), J. Gilligan (0-1).
Offaly : S. Dooley (0-9, 0-7 frees), S. Ryan (0-1), G. Healion (0-1), M. Morkan (0-1).
WESTMEATH: S. McGovern; P. Fennell, A. Price, C. Jordan; D. Fennell, E. Price, P. Gilsenan; P. Dowdall, A. Clarke; P. Greville, F. Boyle, A. Mitchell; B. Murtagh, D. Higgins, J. Shaw.
Subs: A. Dermody for F. Boyle (ht), D. Carty for D. Higgins (46), J. Gilligan for D. Fennell (64).
OFFALY: J. Dempsey; M. Verney, P. Healion, S. Wynne; E. Murphy, R. Hannify, D. Horan; J. Bergin, S. Kelly; D. Dunne, C. Egan, B. Murphy; S. Dooley, D. Molloy, S. Ryan.
Subs: G. Healion for D. Molloy (34), M. Morkan for D. Dunne (46), S. Coughlan for P. Healion (48).
Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).
