Laois see off Sligo to boost promotion hopes

The game was played in testing condition in Portlaoise. 

ON FORM: Laois forward Evan O’Carroll. File Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Laois 0-18 Sligo 1-8 

Laois have boosted their promotion chances with a deserved seven-point victory over Sligo at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday night.

It was a deserved win as they adapted to the elements better to get their first win of the campaign.

Laois recovered from a sluggish start to go in at half-time with a six-point lead, but it could have been more as Evan O’Carroll missed a penalty with one minute remaining.

It was a lead Sligo could never respond to, as they struggled to break down the Laois defence for large parts of the game.

In awful conditions, Sligo started the faster with three points in a row with Pat Spilane, Canice Mulligan and Jack Lavin all pointed for the away side.

The response from Laois was an emphatic one as they kicked 12 points in a row, including three two-pointers.

Rioghan Murphy got the ball rolling with an outstanding two-pointer to bring the gap back to one. Laois were winning the midfield battle as Sligo struggled against the wind.

Laois were superb at their long-range kicking with Darragh Galvin and Evan O’Carroll getting a brace each to give the home side the lead.

The latter then kicked another two pointer to open up a four-point lead as Laois were threating to run riot.

Murphy added another while Brian Byrne got the third two-pointer for Laois. Both Murphy and Galvin were on their game and added a point each.

Sligo then got a lifeline as they cut through the Laois defence to get a goal through Luke Casserly to breathe life into the Sligo side after going scoreless for 25 minutes Laois then had a huge opportunity to open up a decent gap at half time as Rioghan Murphy was taken down for a penalty, but O’Carroll fired wide to leave the scores at 0-12 to 1-3 at half time in favour of Laois but in truth they could have been further ahead.

Sligo again started the second half the better with three points in a row, including a two-pointer from Jack Lavin along with Canice Mulligan as they threatened a comeback, but Laois then settled into the half again.

Rioghan Murphy got his side going again with a fine point, but Sligo responded through sub-Joshua Flynn.

Laois then took full control of the game and kicked the next four points in a row to take the game away from Sligo.

The excellent Evan O’Carroll would score three points in that period along with the superb Murphy, as Laois closed in on their first win.

Niall Murphy responded for Sligo, but it was to be Laois’s day with Paul Kingston rounding off a fine team performance to give Laois a deserved seven-point win.

Scorers for Laois: R Murphy 0-6 (one two pointer, 0-1 free), E O’Carroll 0-6 (one two pointer 0-3 frees) D Galvin 0-3, B Byrne 0-2 (two pointer), P Kingston 0-1 

Scorers for Sligo: J Lavin 0-3 (one two pointer), L Casserly 1-0, C Mulligan 0-2, P Spillane, J Flynn, N Murphy 0-1 each 

Laois: K Roche; B Dempsey, T Collins, K Swayne; P O’Sullivan, B Byrne, J Lacey; R Tyrell, M Dempsey; R Murphy, E O’Carroll, C Heffernan; J Hogan, D Galvin, S Fingleton Subs: D Brennan for J Hogan (40), P Kingston for M Dempsey (47), J Darcy For J Lacey (55), C Burke for R Tyrell (68) 

Sligo: A Devaney; T Ross, E Lyons, L Casserly; R Doherty, P Kilcoyne, J Lavin; C Mulligan, L Towey; N Murphy, J.Donlon C Lally; A McLoughlin, L Deigan, P Spillane Subs: C Sheridan for P Kilcoyne (HT), J Flynn for McLoughlin (42), P O’Connor for P Spillane (46) Adam Reilly for R Doherty (46) D Quinn for L Deigan (55)