Limerick have too much in the tank for Laois as they book semi-final slot

Laois 0-11 Limerick 2-22

All-Ireland champions Limerick have a, Allianz Hurling League semi-final to look forward to for the fourth year running following a big win over Laois in O’Moore Park on Saturday night.

Limerick manager John Kiely only started six of last year's All Ireland-winning heroes but they still had too much strength for the young home side.

First-half goals from Conor Boylan and Séamus Flanagan set them on their way and while Laois competed as well as they could, the result was never in doubt.

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It was a workmanlike Limerick performance with Barry Murphy their top scorer with eight points.

Laois came into the game on the back of positive outings against Offaly, Carlow and Dublin but this was a big step up. And it told from the start.

Limerick were stronger and sharper, continuously swallowing Laois up in the tackle and creating space for themselves when they were in possession.

There's a euphoria around Limerick hurling at the moment and they brought a huge crowd to Portlaoise. And they had plenty to shout about early on. Murphy and David Dempsey fired over early points and although Lee Cleere responded for Laois, the visitors got their first goal in the fifth minute when Flanagan fired past Enda Rowland after good work from Gearóid Hegarty.

Peter Casey and captain Declan Hannon followed up with points from play before Murphy added another free. After just 10 minutes, Limerick led 1-5 to 0-1.

Laois grew into the game somewhat with Rowland pointing a long-range free for Laois and Mark Kavanagh adding three more but Laois struggled in front of the posts, hitting 14 wides in total in the opening half.

Limerick struck for a second goal on the 30-minute mark with Boylan – one of Limerick’s newer faces – finishing smartly. Kavanagh responded with another free but Casey and Hegarty added further points before the break.

At half-time Limerick led 2-11 to 0-6 with all six of their starting forwards on the scoresheet.

Limerick continued to lead the way in the second half with Diarmuid Byrnes (free), Hegarty, a sublime Darragh O'Donovan sideline cut and four from Murphy stretching their lead.

Kavanagh, Paddy Purcell, Aaron Dunphy and Jack Kelly pointed for Laois as both sides used their bench but the scoring rate slowed down with Flanagan, Boylan and another Murphy free ensured Limerick had 17 points to spare at the final whistle.

LAOIS: E Rowland (0-1, free); J Phelan, M Whelan, D Hartnett; P Delaney, R Mullaney, L Cleere (0-1); J Kelly (0-1), S Downey; P Purcell (0-1), M Kavanagh (0-6, five frees), A Dunphy (0-1); M Dowling, N Foyle, S Bergin.

Subs: PJ Scully for Foyle (blood, 23-27 mins), PJ Scully for Bergin (45), S Maher for M Dowling (52), D Connolly for Downey (58), A Bergin for Foyle (65)

LIMERICK: B Hennessy; T Condon, D Morrissey, W O'Meara; D Byrnes (0-1, free), D Hannon (0-1), B Nash; D O'Donovan (0-1, s/c), R Hanley (0-1); G Hegarty (0-3), D Dempsey (0-1), C Boylan (1-1); P Casey (0-3), S Flanagan (1-2), B Murphy (0-8, seven frees).

Subs: A Costelloe for Condon (h/t), D Reidy for Casey (45 mins), S Dowling for Hegarty (55), C Ryan for Hanley (57), A La Touche-Cosgrave for Byrnes (60)

Referee: C Lyons (Cork)