Laois take command early and surge to facile victory

Laois 2-22 UCD 1-08: Laois proved far too strong for UCD in this Walsh Cup opener in Abbeyleix on Sunday.

With the teams level midway through the first half, the hosts rattled off nine points in a row to take a commanding 0-14 to 1-2 lead at half time.

There was no let up after the break, even after both teams were reduced to 14 men as Matthew O’Hanlon and Cha Dwyer saw red, with goals from PJ Scully and Zane Keenan (penalty) ensuring that Cheddar Plunkett’s men had plenty to spare at the final whistle.

Scorers for Laois: Z Keenan 1-9 (0-5f), PJ Scully 1-3, T Fitzgerald 0-3, J Campion 0-2, J Fitzpatrick, C Stapleton, C Dwyer, D Palmer, N Foyle 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCD: C McDonald 1-5 (0-3f), S Aylward 0-3f

LAOIS: E Reilly; JA Delaney, C Healy, C Dunne; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, C Stapleton; J Campion, J Walsh; W Hyland, Z Keenan, C Dwyer; PJ Scully, T Fitzgerald, B Conroy.

Subs: D Palmer for Hyland (51), N Foyle for Fitzgerald (51), B Stapleton for Walsh (60), B Reddin for Conroy (62)

UCD: S Brennan; E Conroy, M O’Hanlon, S Murphy; C MacGabhainn, R Murphy, S Aylward; C Devitt, P Purcell; C Cronin, C O’Shea, J O’Connor; C McDonald, D Higgins, O O’Ruairc.

Subs: T Aylward for MacGabhainn (51), C O’Shea for O’Connor (51), D Fox for Cronin (51), M Brennan for O’Ruairc (51), J Murphy for Higgins (64)

Referee: B Redmond (Wexford).