Laois spring ambush

Laois caused a major upset when they inflicted defeat on reigning league champions Cork at Rathdowney yesterday.

The wind was to prove a major factor in a game played in otherwise perfect conditions. Cork won the toss and were favoured by the breeze in that opening half; however a solid Laois defence contained the Cork men and the sides were level on four occasions after Declan Rooney had given Laois the lead after just 27 seconds.

A point by Joe Deane in the 31st minute put the Cork men ahead 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval. When they stretched their lead with a Brendan Coleman point after just one minute of the second half it looked as if Cork would win comfortably.

Then, a minute later, David Cuddy struck for an excellent Laois goal, and once ahead the home side never looked back. Three quick points in succession by Cyril and David Cuddy and a third by Declan Rooney put the home team four points ahead.

The Laois defence were now guilty of some unnecessary fouling and sharpshooter Deane punished them with three points in a row.

With 10 minutes remaining Cork trailed by a single point; however the home side dug into their reserves and responded with four magnificent points from David Cuddy, Declan Conroy and substitute Eamonn Fennelly.

When Niall Rigney converted a 65-metre free five minutes from time, Laois had a five-point lead.

Cork rallied again, but their only reward was a Kieran Morrison point in the 59th minute, and the home side held on to record their first victory over Cork in 16 years.

The victory is the second for Laois in this year's league and puts them in a three-way tie for top spot in the division with Kilkenny and Tipperary.

Laois opened their campaign with a win against Wexford, also at Rathdowney, before going down to Kilkenny away. Good use of the wind on the tight pitch and the ability of Rigney to land frees from a long way out was also significant in the win against Wexford.

LAOIS: R Cashin; P Peacock, B Maher, S Dooley; N Rigney (0-3), P Cuddy, A Bergin; O Dowling, D Conroy (0-1); D Cuddy (1-3), D Rooney (0-2), C Cuddy (0-2); F O'Sullivan, M Rooney (0-1), N Lacey. Subs: E Fennelly (0-1) for N Lacey; L Tynan for O'Sullivan.

CORK: D Og Cusack; D Murphy, J Browne, F Ryan; J Sheehan, M Landers, S Og O hAilpin; D O'Sullivan, P Ryan (0-1); F McCormack, T McCarthy, B Coleman (0-1); S McGrath, K Morrison (0-3), J Deane (0-7). Subs: D Barrett for P Ryan; M Daly for F McCormack; B O'Connor for S McGrath.

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).