Kirby feasts on Laois's paltry offering

LIMERICK flexed their hurling muscles once again yesterday, this time in Kilmallock. Within 10 minutes, their dominance was so total that they were able to relax and concede time and space to Laois without any danger of punishment. Laois for their part, face matches against Galway and Offaly and hold out little hope of survival in the top flight.

Limerick have other things on their minds. They travel to Galway for their next League match and then face Offaly at home as the temperature of the National League increases. At the same time, they will be concentrating on their Munster Championship first round clash with Waterford.

Yesterday's effort by Laois was scarcely worthy of the competition. Two points by one player, one of them from a free, is not adequate at this level and there is little that can be said in their favour.

Their problems were manifold. Defence, midfield and attack were swamped by Limerick; had the Munster champions being so inclined, the rout might have been even more embarrassing.

It has to be recorded that the way Limerick are playing at the moment gives little credibility to the widespread belief that their hearts have been broken by two successive Croke Park failures.

The strong impression is beginning to gain ground that, before the year is out, somebody may have to pay dearly for such hopes. This, clearly, is a team not to be trifled with and although the pressure slackened towards the end of this match, efforts by Laois to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard were vigorously brushed aside.

Although a contribution of 2-7 by Gary Kirby will, naturally, attract most attention, this was far from being a one man show. In fact, it was the right wing of the Limerick defence consisting of Steve McDonagh and Dave Clarke - which epitomised Limerick's strength.

With the Nash brothers, Ciaran Carey and Mark Foley also in uncompromising mood, Laois were reduced to shreds as far as any attacking moves were concerned.

At midfield, too, Mike Houlihan and Ollie Moran were dominating affairs and hard though Paul Delaney tried, he could not turn the tide. Kirby ranged far and wide to pick up scores from every possible source. At the end, his tally consisted of a goal from a penalty, another from a free, four points from frees and one each from play and a 65.

When mentioning the Limerick defence, it is only fair to pay credit to Joe Quaid, who made two beautiful saves in difficult circumstances.

Limerick sped into a six point lead by the 10 minutes with Shane O'Neill, Barry Foley, David Hennessy (twice) and Gary Kirby from a free all causing problems for the Laois defence.

A lull then followed with more than 10 minutes elapsing during which David Cuddy forced a splendid save from Quaid and Paul Delaney scored the first Laois point.

Two successful frees by Kirby and a free by Delaney brought the score to 0-8 to 0-2 at half time.

Limerick moved down a gear for most the second half, but efforts by Laois to lift the tempo failed miserably with the Limerick defence soaking up whatever puny pressure came their way.

When Limerick were awarded a penalty after 12 minutes of the second half Kirby drove the ball into the roof of the net. He then lobbed over a point from a 65 and when Kirby seemed to mishit a free from about 35 yards out, the Laois defence failed to cope and the ball ended up in the net. Kirby, predictably, finished the Laois humiliation just before the end.