Sport

In control Laois advance

Laois recorded their first Leinster hurling championship victory in 11 years when they outscored Westmeath by 13 points in this…

Mon May 08 2000 - 01:00

Laois recorded their first Leinster hurling championship victory in 11 years when they outscored Westmeath by 13 points in this first round game played in the scorching sunshine at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday.

Laois, hot favourites to win this contest, got an early fright when Barry Kennedy flicked the sliothar to the net in the 11th minute to give his team a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

James Young and Joe Phelan pointed to level affairs and then Laois had a golden three-minute spell with Fionan O'Sullivan and James Young scoring a goal each to ease their side into a 2-6 to 1-2 lead.

Westmeath's inability to score cost them dearly, although they were lucky not to score a goal when Bill Maher took off a brilliant goal line save from Andrew Mitchell.

READ MORE

Lively and speedy Laois Forward, O'Sullivan and impressive centre half back Paul Cuddy picked off points while points from Brendan Williams and Andrew Mitchell reduced the Laois halftime advantage to eight points, 2-9 to 1-5.

The third quarter was well contested and the teams exchanged a brace of points apiece.

In the 44th minute, the Westmeath fans in the 1,337 attendance were on their feet when Andrew Mitchell blasted a penalty into the net and now Westmeath had a glimmer of hope with Laois leading by 2-11 to 2-6.

The game swung firmly in favour of Laois when Niall Rigney's wellstruck 65 went all the way to the net.

This fortuitous goal deflated Westmeath and the excellent David Cuddy knocked over a succession of points for a convincing victory.

LAOIS: J Lyons; P J Peacock, B Maher, J O'Sullivan; P Mahon, P Cuddy (0-1), D Dowling (0-1); C Cuddy, N Rigney (1-0); D Rooney (0-2), D Cuddy (0-5), J Phelan (0-2); A Coffey, J Young (1-3), F O'Sullivan (1-3). Subs: D Conroy (0-1) for B Maher (half-time); N Lacey for P Cuddy (56 mins); D Keenan for A Coffey (63 mins); E Browne for D Dowling (63 mins).

WESTMEATH: P Walsh; J Kilroy, M Williams, B Murphy; B Williams (0-1), D McCormack; M Murtagh, P Williams, A Devine; A Mitchell (1-4), O Devine (0-2), J Gavigan (0-1); B Kennedy (1-0), M Carley, P Clarke. Subs: D Curley for M Murtagh (20 mins); D Devine for M Carley (48 mins); D Gallagher for B Williams (52 mins); G Geoghegan for A Devine (55th).

Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary).