Laois hold all the aces after lightning start
LAOIS 3-14 LOUTH 1-13 LOUTH U-16s made a disappointing start in their quest for honours in this year’s Gerry Reilly Tournament at Gilson Park in Oldcastle on Saturday.
Playing into the wind and rain in the first half they were shellshocked from the very start by an electrifying Laois half and full forward line that had the Louth defence panic stricken for most of the half.
The Wee County only mustered 4 points in the opening period, a brace each from Jonathan Commins and Dáire Nally (1 free), against their opponents 2-12 and matters could have been worse but for a remarkable double save from Joe Gordon on 25 minutes.
Laois got the opening point of the second half to extend their lead to 15 points before Gordon pulled off another great save to stop what looked a certain goal.
Louth finally came to life and scored 1-5 without reply to narrow the gap to 7 points, the goal a wonder strike from Mícheál Begley who also scored a point, the other 4 coming from Dáire Nally frees.
But a goal and a point from Laois midway through the half ended this momentum and effectively sealed the outcome even though they didn’t score in the last 13 minutes, Louth adding 4 points in that period, a Conor Quigley point from play and 3 more Nally frees.
The team will hope to respond in positive manner when they meet the hosts Meath in Millbrook, Oldcastle in Round 2 on Friday (7th July).
Louth scorers: Dáire Nally 0-9 (8 frees), Mícheál Begley 1-1, Jonathan Commins 0-2, Conor Quigley 0-1.
LOUTH: Joe Gordon, Craig Callan, Nathan Buckley, Jay Crawley, Sean Healy, Paul McEvoy (Capt), Bobby Butterly, Gerard White, James McGillick, Mícheál Begley, Dáire Nally, Conor Faulkner, Cathal Fleming, Ryan Walsh, Jonathan Commins. Subs: Jamie Winters for Crawley, Andrew Lennon for Healy, James Harper for Butterly, Conor Quigley for White, Adam Harper for Faulkner, Ewan McEnteggart for Walsh. Unused subs: Martin McEneaney, Aaron McDonnell, Joseph Connor, Pádraig Duffy, Darragh McCoy, Adam Fee, Gabriel Bell, Finbarr Lynch.