O’Carroll points way as Laois turn on style

LAOIS got back to winning ways thanks to a deserved victory over Sligo in O’Moore Park yesterday.

John Sugrue’s charges blitzed their opponents early in the second-half to go 12 points clear, before holding off a Sligo comeback.

The game took a while to get going, with six minutes elapsing before the first score was registered.

Conor Boyle provided it for the home side, and Evan O’Carroll and Paul Cahillane soon pushed them into a three-point lead.

Sligo didn’t score until the 16th minute, through an Adrian Marren free, but goalkeeper Aiden Devaney quickly added another free and they were within one.

That set the tone for a tight and scrappy first-half, with O’Carroll’s four points helping Laois into a 0-9 to 0-6 lead at the break.

The opening stages of the second-half proved crucial, as Laois struck for goals through Stephen Attride and Donie Kingston.

Sligo looked doomed, but hit back with two goals of their own from sub Barry O’Gorman. Laois then lost wing-back Marty Scully to a red card and Sligo did their utmost to narrow the gap even further, but the Laois defence held firm.

The win puts Laois back in the promotion hunt, but for Sligo it’s a third straight loss.

SCORERS – Laois: E O’Carroll 0-8 (2f, 1m), D Kingston 1-3 (1m), S Attride 1-0, P Cahillane (1f), C Murphy 0-2 each, D O’Reilly, C Boyle, M Barry 0-1 each. Sligo: B O’Gorman 2-1 (1m), A Marren 0-4 (3f), L Gaughan 0-3, A Devaney 0-2 (2f).

LAOIS – G Brody 6; D Seale 6, S Nerney 6, G Dillon 7; M Scully 7, S Attride 7, C Begley 7; J O’Loughlin 7, K Meaney 6; D O’Reilly 6, D Kingston 8, C Boyle 6; P Cahillane 6, E O’Carroll 9, M Barry 6. Subs: R Tyrell 6 for Meaney (50), S O’Flynn 6 for Boyle (57), E Lowry 6 for Barry (59), C Murphy 7 for O’Carroll (60), R Munnelly 6 for Cahillane (66).

SLIGO – A Devaney 7; N Mullen 6, P Laffey 6, J Carr 6; P McNamara 7, L Nicholson 6, G O’Kelly Lynch 7; P Kilcoyne 7, A McIntyre 7; L Gaughan 7, S Carrabine 6, C Henry 6; A Marren 6, P O’Connor 5, N Murphy 5. Subs: B O’Gorman 7 for Murphy (14, inj), N Ewing 6 for Henry (31), A McLoughlin 6 for Carrabine (44), D Cummins 6 for Nicholson (47), D Quinn 6 for Laffey (70).

REF – F Smyth (Offaly).