O'Dwyer's Laois dispose of Mayo

Mayo 1-08, Laois 1-09

A tenacious first-half performance laid the foundation for this Laois victory over 14-man Mayo at Ballinrobe.

Mick O’Dwyer’s young side - peppered with a few experienced campaigners –-raced out of the blocks and within five minutes had the ball in the back of the home net, through the boot of Kieran Kelly.

Two further points were added before centre half-forward Declan Sweeney opened Mayo’s account with a point from play in the 22nd minute.

A 33rd minute goal by Mayo forward Andy Moran put a gloss on the half-time tally of the home side that their performance hardly merited. But they all count and with the dismissal of Sweeney following four minutes later, Mayo needed the boost.

The introduction of Maurice Sheridan to the Mayo forward line before the break was also a source of hope for the home crowd, but his return of three points was not enough to earn his side any points in this encounter.

Laois points in the final quarter by Ian Fitzgerald and Chris Conway were enough to secure victory, though Sheridan had a chance to level matters with a ’45 at the death.