Goals the difference as Laois overcome Offaly in Walsh Cup first round

GOALS WIN GAMES: Tempers flare between Leon Fox of Offaly and Aaron Dunphy of Laois. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Walsh Cup Round 1

Laois 2-18 Offaly 0-18

Laois made a winning start to the Walsh Cup as goals in either half saw them get the better of neighbours Offaly in the Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise.

With the Offaly footballers winning the same fixture in the O'Byrne Cup last night, Willie Maher's side seemed keen to lay down an early season marker.

A brilliantly taken individual goal from Camross' Mark Dowling and an excellently struck penalty from goalkeeper Enda Rowland proved the difference on a cold but calm night for hurling.

There was little to no wind but a constant trickle of rain fell which led to particularly testing conditions underfoot for the players, something that was evident by the marks left on the pitch after the 70 minutes.

A bright start to the game saw Willie Maher’s charges go four points ahead, but wastefulness in front of the posts mixed with a habit of conceding frees allowed Offaly back into contention.

Dowling's goal put Laois four clear midway through the half but Offaly would take the upper hand for the remainder of the first half as frees from David Nally left just one between them at the break - 1-8 to 0-10 to Laois.

Laois' Mark Dowling celebrates after scoring his side's first goal of the match.

Offaly came out at the start of the second half and fired over two of the first three points to draw level - Leon Fox and Nally with the scores.

But the game changed when Laois found the net for a second time. The lively James Duggan was hauled down in the square and Rowland made the journey up the field to hammer the ball home.

He quickly added a point from a 65 before score from Willie Dunphy and Martin Phelan (2) added to the visitors’ woes.

Substitutes Charlie Mitchel and Eoghan Cahill combined for four points midway through the half but they were equalled by Rowland, Aaron Dunphy and Willie Dunphy.

A point each for Aaron Dunphy and Joe Hoctor saw out the game and Laois took the spoils.

The result means that it is Offaly who will host Galway on Sunday when the Tribesmen travel to Tullamore for Round 2.

While Laois will have ten days to prepare to face the Connacht men in Ballinasloe on Sunday, January 14.

Scorers for Laois: E Rowland (1-4, 1-0 p, 3 65s, 1f), A Dunphy (0-6, 3fs), Mark Dowling (1-0), A Corby, M Phelan and W Dunphy (0-2 each), J Lennon and D Conway (0-1 each).

Scorers for Offaly: D Nally (0-8, 7fs), E Cahill (0-3, 2fs,1 65), C Mitchell, C Sampson, L Fox, L Watkins, E Kelly, P Cleary and J Hoctor (0-1 each).

LAOIS: E Rowland; I Shanahan, L O’Connell, L Cleere; D Conway, G Lynch, T Cuddy; C Comerford, J Lennon; A Corby, A Dunphy, M Dowling; J Duggan, M Phelan, J Quinlan.

Subs: D Dooley for Lennon (ht), P Delaney for Conway (ht), W Dunphy for Quinlan (45), P Dunne for Comerford (57), N Quinlan for Dowling (63), A Phelan for Corby (67).

OFFALY: S Corcoran; J Clancy, B Conneely, P Delaney; J Nally, L Fox, D Maher; C King, L Watkins; D Bourke, K Sampson, D Nally; M Watkins, E Kelly, P Cleary.

Subs: M Troy for Corcoran, S Bourke for Clancy, J Sampson for Delaney, C Mitchell for Cleary and C Burke for J Nally (All HT), E Cahill for Bourke (50), D Shirley for Watkins (54), J Hoctor for D Nally, K Conners for Maher (both 65).

Referee: Owen Behan (Kilkenny).