Derry surrender 100% record

Laois 1-16 Derry 0-10

Derry surrendered their perfect record in Division 1B as Laois put them to the sword in a 1-16 to 0-10 victory at O’Moore Park.

The Laois effort was typified by fit-again midfielder Padraig Clancy – who came off the bench to kick three excellent points in the dying embers of the second half. An excellent score from marauding 2003 All-Star defender Joe Higgins finished off the Oak Leafers, who slumped to their first defeat in five league games.

Nonetheless, the solid form of Derry’s Bradley brother Eoin and Paddy, who hit 1-07 between them in last weekend’s defeat of league champions Armagh, continued in the opening skirmishes in Portlaoise.

Left corner forward Eoin stroked over the game’s opening point after two minutes, full-forward Paddy chipped over a 30-metre free and added a second placed ball on 20 minutes for a 0-03 to 0-02 lead for the Oak Leafers.

In between, Gary Kavanagh and Chris Conway kept the hosts ticking and Laois hit the front when Lawlor and Brennan combined for a timely 21st-minute goal. Lawlor sent in a dangerous ball and Arles-Killeen attacker Brennan reacted quickest to punch beyond the reach of Derry stopper Shane McGuckin from 13 yards out.

Laois hit three of the next four points to move 1-05 to 0-04 clear – Ross Munnelly clipped over twice with Brennan scoring from an acute angle on 32 minutes. But the Bradleys – who kicked three points apiece in the first half – grabbed late overs to leave it at 1-05 to 0-06 at the break.

By the hour mark, Laois were 1-10 to 0-10 to the good. Derry opened the second half well with Eoin Bradley (0-02) and Martin Donaghy pointing with Munnelly (free) and Lawlor scoring for the hosts. Munnelly was forced off with an injury on 43 minutes, allowing a pumped-up Clancy to enter the fray.

Laois hit the next three points through Brian McCormack, Billy Sheehan and Chris Conway to take their tally to 1-10. Substitute Paul Diamond chalked up Derry’s tenth point, but was all Laois from then on.

Conway then added two points to his tally, Clancy hit his hat trick and Higgins came up for the back to seal a second successive win for Mick O’Dwyer’s side.