Galway overcome Laois fightback - report

Laois 2-11 Galway 2-22

Ger Farragher emerged as the hero in Galway's first championship outing of 2005 as he hit just over half of their final tally in a facile 2-22 to 2-11 qualifier beating Laois.

The Portlaoise clash which looked like a predictable win for the Tribesmen in the first half, breathed into life in the second period as Paudie Butler's side mounted a fine challenge.

The visitors opened up a large gap at the finish, but a Damien Culleton goal and some fine scores from the Laois men early on in the second half had Galway supporters worried for a time.

Farragher, Galway's opening points scorer, blasted home a 20-metre free nearing the 20-minute mark to open up a bit of daylight between the sides. Kevin Hayes added a second soon after as the visitors broke clear for a 2-10 to 1-7 half-time lead.

Galway midfielder Tony Og Regan was in impressive form - postinf four first half points, while Laois' goal arrived in injury-time and was created and finished by full-forward Liam Tynan, who found the far corner of Galway 'keeper Liam Donoghue's net.

Culleton's 39th-minute goal, the result of a first-time pull on a dropping ball from midfield rallied the 1500-strong O'Moore Park crowd. A greater accuracy from the Laois forwards could have seen the game levelled them, but with the home side's wides tally sky-rocketing, Farragher clinically finished off the game with his impressive 1-12 (0-11f) haul.