Kelly runs riot as Laois sparkle

Laois -1-19 - Clare - 1-6: Laois gave an indication that they are at last ready to deliver on their pedigree when they outclassed Clare in the All-Ireland qualifiers at Portlaoise on Saturday evening.

Laois made good use of the strong wind in the opening half and Clare were in trouble after just 10 minutes when they were seven points behind. Laois opened with two early points from Chris Conway, one from a free and one from play. Six minutes into the game the Clare defence was caught napping when Chris Conway lofted a high ball into the goalmouth, which deceived the backs and the goalkeeper and went into the back of the net.

Clare opened their account with a Michael O'Dwyer point after 12 minutes, but at this stage Laois had 1-4 on the board. Stephen Kelly, who had missed Laois's game against Wicklow through injury, then hit three unanswered points and at this stage Clare were really struggling. Laois were in a commanding position at half-time, leading 1-9 to 1-1, Clare's goal coming from Colm Mullen.

Laois had stretched that lead to 10 points (1-13 to 1-3) when Clare were awarded a penalty for a foul on Mullen. The same player took the penalty but Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron made a brilliant save at the expense of a 45, which Mullen converted for a point.

However, that more or less ended Clare's challenge and Kelly completed a wonderful performance when he scored his ninth point in the final minute.

LAOIS: F Byron; D Brennan, P Conway, D Ryan; D Conroy, K Fitzpatrick, J Higgins; P Clancy (0-1), N Garvan; I Fitzgerald (0-1), C Conway (1-3), G Ramsbottom (0-2); S Kelly (0-9), M Lawlor (0-2), B McDonald. Subs: G Kavanagh (0-1) for M Lawlor, J Kealy for P Clancy, P Leonard for P Conway, E Dalaney for K Fitzpatrick, P McDonald for D Brennan.

CLARE: F Maguire; P Gallagher, R Gibbons, S Meade; M O'Connell, N Hawes, P Smyth; D O'Sullivan, G Quinlan; D O'Driscoll (0-1), D Russell, M O'Shea; M O'Dwyer (0-3), P Hehir (0-1), C Mullen (1-1). Subs: G Keane for D O'Sullivan, S Hickey for M O'Shea, J Mooney for P Smith, N Meaney for S Meade.

Referee: S McGonigle (Donegal).