Gaelic Games

Laois boost survival hopes as they sweep Wicklow aside in Aughrim

Home side got within a point before Laois powered away from them

Evan O’Carroll scored Laois’ goal against Wicklow. Photograph: Brian Reilly-Troy/Inpho

Sun Mar 13 2022 - 16:44

Wicklow 0-8 Laois 1-17

Laois have given their hopes of surviving relegation a boost with a facile win over Wicklow in Aughrim.

The first half started cagey, with Wicklow backing off and Laois probing for a gap.

The opening score didn’t arrive until the fifth minute through Alan Dillon but, as Laois grew into the game, the home side wouldn’t score for another 20 minutes, despite the wind at their backs.

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In the meantime, Laois opened up a five-point advantage through Kieran Lillis, Gary Walsh (two frees), Evan O’Carroll, Alan Farrell and Pádraig O’Sullivan.

Wicklow, who were embarking on a new, interim era after Colin Kelly’s departure as manager, with Alan Costello and Gary Duffy taking charge, were found wanting throughout.

Mark Jackson (two 45s), Alan Dillon and Eoin Murtagh sent them into the break trailing by just two, and Dillon brought the game back to one early in the second half, but that was as good as it got.

Just eight minutes into the half, Laois had their goal, when a Danny Bolger free was punched straight to O’Carroll, who converted.

They notched another nine scores to reinforce their advantage, while the dogged Alex Mohan put in a sensational block on a goal-bound JP Hurley effort.

WICKLOW: M Jackson (0-2, two 45s); P O'Keane, J Snell, N Devereux; F O'Shea, Z Cullen, E Murtagh (0-1); D Healy, P O'Toole; J Hurley, E Darcy (0-1), D Fitzgerald (0-1); A Dillon (0-3, three frees), R Stokes, K Quinn.

Subs: M Kenny for Stokes (h-t), M Stone for O'Shea (48 mins), A Maher for Devereux (53), O Cullen for Fitzgerald (55), A Murphy for Dillon (56).

LAOIS: D Bolger (0-1, free); D Bennett, T Collins, A Mohan; A Farrell (0-1), J O'Loughlin, D Kavanagh; K Lillis (0-1), S O'Flynn (0-1); B Byrne, E Lowry (0-1), P O'Sullivan (0-1); M Barry (0-1, free), E O'Carroll (1-2), G Walsh (0-7, four frees).

Subs: C Murphy for O'Sullivan (h-t), D O'Reilly for Byrne (53 mins), S Bolger for Bennett, R Munnelly (0-1, free) for E O'Carroll (both 55), J Finn for Lillis (58).

Referee: C Reilly.

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