Keeper Roche fires five points in opening win for lively Laois

Laois goalkeeper Killian Roche 

Allianz FL Division 4: Laois 1-12 Longford 2-7

Laois got their 2024 National League season underway with a valuable home win over Longford in O'Moore Park.

Keeper Killian Roche was sensational as he kicked five points in total - with his new roaming role resulting in three of those from play.

His midfielder Damon Larkin was similarly excellent as he held the dangerous Darren Gallagher scoreless from play and kicked 1-2 himself.

Laois played with a gale force wind in the first half and kicked the first three scores in the opening 12 minutes.

Longford grew into it though and retained possession for long spells before striking back.

Ryan Moffett got the first after a misplaced pass by Laois in defence and then Cathal McCabe cut the gap to one in the 18th minute.

That would actually be Longford's final score of the half but they did have the clearest goal chance of the half before the end.

A long ball in was won by Jayson Matthews and that left him one one-on-one with Roche but the Killeshin man dived the right way and saved his effort.

Laois finished the half well enough after that with Roche and Larkin pointing before O'Carroll landed two late frees to leave them 0-7 to 0-2 ahead at half time.

Laois almost had a goal when play resumed but Niall Corbet's shot was blocked and Longford countered where Joe Hagan punched over.

Roche replied with another sensational point from play but a Darren Gallagher free left four between them after 42 minutes.

And that would be back to one by the 46th minute when Longford were awarded a penalty.

A Laois kick went wrong and Longford pounced. Cathal McCabe was eventually fouled by Seamus Lacey and Darren Gallagher scored from the spot.

Laois's character was tested now but they had a response as Roche slotted a free and then they scored a goal.

Damon Larkin finished it brilliantly after a great pass from Mark Timmons following an earlier turnover from Niall Dunne.

Both sides then had goal chances that they didn't take in the minutes that followed but neither were successful.

Killian Roche pointed for the fifth time and although Cathal McCabe responded, a Mark Barry point left Laois 1-12 to 1-6 up in the 61st minute.

They played keep-ball for four minutes after that but then sub Danny O'Reilly got black-carded for an off-the-ball incident and Longford had an extra player for the time that remained.

They got a point back through Mark Hughes and then missed a clear goal chance from Darren Gallagher as we entered three minutes of injury time.

Laois looked to have killed the game in the second minute of that when Seamus Lacey finished after sub Ciaran Burke's shot had been blocked but it was ruled out for a square ball.

Longford fired in a long ball and it broke to sub Dylan Farrell who drilled it to the net but there was time for no more as Laois picked up a valuable two points.

Scorers for Laois: Killian Roche 0-5 (two frees), Damon Larkin 1-2, Evan O'Carroll 0-3 (two frees), Mark Barry 0-2 (one free) 

Longford: Darren Gallagher 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1 free), Dylan Farrell 1-0, Mark Hughes (one mark) and Cathal McCabe 0-2 each, Joseph Hagan and Ryan Moffett 0-1 each 

LAOIS: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Seamus Lacey, James Kelly; Eoin Buggie, Mark Timmons, Brian Byrne; Conor Heffernan, Damon Larkin; Kevin Swayne, Niall Dunne, Shaun Fitzpatrick; Mark Barry, Evan O’Carroll, Niall Corbet. 

Subs: Eoin Lowry for Corbet (42), Danny O'Reilly for Buggie (62), Sean O'Flynn for Larkin (67), Ciaran Burke for Heffernan (70), Mikie Dempsey for Dunne (71) 

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Oisin O'Toole, Bryan Masterson; Barry O'Farrell, Micky Quinn, Ryan Moffett; Darren Gallagher, Daire Duggan; Iarla O'Sullivan, Joe Hagan, Keelin McGann; Daniel Reynolds, Jayson Matthews, Cathal McCabe. 

Subs: Mark Hughes for O'Farrell (ht), Dylan Farrell for Duggan (60), Liam Hughes for O'Sullivan (67, inj) 

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)