Cork edge classic with Clare as Déise down Tribe
PJ SCULLY ensured Laois retained their NHL Division 1 status thanks to a brilliant display in O’Moore Park last night.
Scully hit 0-17 for Cheddar Plunkett’s side, as they recovered from a nine-point first-half deficit to edge out 14-man Westmeath on a scoreline of 1-27 to 0-17.
Laois made a whirlwind start, Paddy Purcell putting them in front after just 15 seconds and a double from Cha Dwyer helping them into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after just four minutes.
They couldn’t maintain that pace though, and Westmeath were level by the 11th minute thanks to Niall O’Brien, Cillian Doyle and Aonghus Clarke.
With wind advantage, they pushed ahead and rattled off eight points in a row, with Doyle accounting for half of them. Laois tried to stem the tide with a free from PJ Scully, but Westmeath remained firmly in control.
It was going to take something brilliant or something lucky for
Laois to reel them in, and they got a bit of luck. Cha Dwyer’s shot for a point held up in the wind, and Ross King beat Noel Conaty to the dropping ball before tapping to an empty net. Laois were then given a numerical boost when Aaron Craig was sent off for Westmeath, leaving Laois six down at the break, but with wind advantage and an extra man for the second half.
Laois started the second half strongly but Westmeath eventually settled and went were six ahead still at the water break. Laois finished the stronger of the two sides though, going on a run of seven points without reply, six of them from Scully.
They were three up heading into added time when Westmeath won a penalty, but Derek McNicholas’ effort flew over the bar and another late Scully free saw Laois stumble over the line.
Elsewhere, the Offaly hurlers seem determined to prove that they deserve to be playing in a higher tier than the third level of Christy Ring Cup competition, hammering Wicklow by 6-30 to 0-11 at Bord
na Móna O’Connor Park to coast into the final.
A goal rush in the first half that saw Michael Fennelly’s side rattle the net five times, meant that the result was decided long before the final whistle. Oisin Kelly and Brian Duignan found the net early on to set the tone as Wicklow were well outclassed.
They will play Derry in the final after a dozen points from captain Cormac O’Doherty helped the Ulster side overcome Sligo on a 028 to 2-17 scoreline.
He was one of nine different Derry scorers on a day when the victors led by six at half-time and did enough to keep Sligo at arm’s length. Mayo are back in the Nicky Rackard Cup final after a 2-23 to 208 victory over Armagh. Despite trailing 2-6 to 1-7 at half-time, a power-packed second half display sent them through where they will play Tyrone who beat Donegal on a 2-23 to 1-21 scoreline.
Cavan and Fermanagh will face each other in the Lory Meagher Cup final after their semi-final victories yesterday.
LAOIS SCOReRS: PJ Scully 0-17 (10fs, 4 65s), R King 1-2, C Dwyer 0-3, W Dunphy, J Kelly 0-2 each, P Purcell 0-1.
WeSTMeATH SCOReRS: K Doyle 0-11 (7fs, 65), N O’Brien 0-7, D McNicholas 0-3 (1 pen), C Doyle 0-2, N Mitchell, J Boyle, K Regan, A Clarke 0-1 each. ReFeRee: P Murphy (Carlow)