Laois power past Westmeath to ease relegation fears

Evan O'Carroll. Pic: Paul Dargan

Laois 3-16 Westmeath 1-13 

Laois have eased their relegation fears with a brilliant victory over heavy favourites Westmeath.

They were full value for their win after putting in their best performance of 2026, denting Westmeath’s hopes of promotion in the process.

In an entertaining first half, as the momentum swung back and forth and by the end of it, Laois led by three.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring through Sam McCartan, but Laois quickly responded through Evan O’Carroll.

Westmeath were coming into the game more and hit two points in a row through Luke Loughlin and the impressive Kevin O’Sullivan.

The home team’s response was an emphatic one, kicking 1-3 without reply, punishing Westmeath on some poor kickouts.

Daragh Galvin, Evan O’Carroll and Ronan Coffey put Laois into the lead, and it just got better after Paddy O’Sullivan won a long kickout and found Ronan Coffey in space and he blasted it into the net.

Then momentum swung back with Westmeath who then kicked three points of their own through Loughlin with a brace while O’Sullivan landed a free to cut the deficit to a point.

Darren Brennan then responded for Laois with a brilliant point, but Westmeath weren’t going away and nailed two further points through O’Sullivan and Loughlin.

Laois goalie Killian Roche then came up to hit a monstrous two-pointer from play while Rioghan Murphy got his first of the night as Laois were finishing the half strong.

Both teams would trade points through Robbie Forde for Westmeath with O’Carroll ending a frantic first half with Laois leading 1-9 to 0-9.

After the restart, Daragh Galvin got the scoring underway with a brilliant point as Laois were looking to back up their impressive first half and they did so.

Loughlin responded for Westmeath, but Laois were starting to dominate in all sectors of the field.

Sub Pa Kirwan and Kevin Swayne pushed the lead out even further as Westmeath were wasteful up front.

Shane Allen replied, keeping Westmeath just in touch, but Laois would kill the game in the next five minutes. 

First, Laois were awarded a penalty as a defender handled the ball in the small square, with Paul Kingston finding the net to leave the scores at 2-12 to 0-11.

Laois pushed on again with points from Galvin and Kingston as Westmeath were stunned after that five-minute spell.

Sam McCartan would get his second of the night with Loughlin with another free to cut the gap to seven points.

Evan O’Carroll then rounded off a perfect display with a third Laois goal with a clinical finish. Kingston added another point as Laois were cruising to victory.

Westmeath did get a consolation goal from a penalty from Luke Loughlin but it was to be Laois’ night as Killian Roche rounded the game off with a point. 

Scorers for Laois: E Carroll 1-4, P Kingston 1-2 (1-0 penalty), R Coffey 1-1, D Galvin 0-3, Killian Roche (one two-pointer, 0-1 free), D Brennan, R Murphy, P Kirwan, K Swayne 0-1 each.

Scorers for Westmeath: L Loughlin 1-6 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), K O’Sullivan 0-3, S McCartan 0-2 (0-1 free), R Forde, S Allen 0-1 each 

Laois: K Roche; J Darcy, T Collins, J Lacey; P O’Sullivan, S Fingleton, K Swayne; R Tyrell, C Heffernan; A McEvoy, R Coffey, D Brennan; R Murphy, D Galvin, E O’Carroll.

Subs: P Kirwan for A McEvoy (44), P Kingston for R Coffey (47), C Burke for R Tyrell (54), N Corbet for D Brennan (64), M Dempsey for R Murphy (67). 

Westmeath: J Connaghton; D Scahill, C Drumm, S Smyth; R Wallace, S Allen, M Whittaker; R Connellan, H Niall; K O’Sullivan, S McCartan, B Cooney; S Corcoran, L Loughlin, R Forde.

Subs: D McCartin for S Corcoran (ht), B Guerin for H Niall (44), T Molloy for R Forde (48).