LAOIS PROFIT FROM SECOND HALF DOWNTURN
LAOIS came from five points down to win by six after a dramatic second half turnaround at Pairc Esler.
The introduction of Donie Kingston at the break was key, Laois scoring seven points in a row before goals in the last quarter from Colm Murphy and Paul Cahillane completed a satisfying night’s work for the visitors. Evan O’carroll top scored with 0-8 but he missed a couple of easy chances in the second half which might on another day have cost Laois.
They were second best in the first half and trailed by 0-9 to 0-5 at the interval.
Of the 14 points scored, each side only managed one from play in a dull opening period.
The second half was played at a much higher tempo and Murphy’s 59th minute goal was well-worked on the counter-attack, with Down furious Conor Francis wasn’t given a free for a foul in the build-up.
Some quick-thinking gave Donal O’hare a fisted goal with five minutes to go after Daniel Guinness took his mark quickly and fired the ball across to him at the back post to palm home. That cut the gap to two points but O’carroll fed Cahillane for the insurance goal.
Down scorers: P Devlin 0-4f, D O’hare 1-1, P Havern 0-3 (2f), C Mcgrady 0-2 (1m), J Johnston 0-1 (m), C Francis 0-1.
Laois: E O’carroll 0-8 (6f), C Murphy 1-1 (1m), P Cahillane 1-0, D Kingston 0-3 (1f, 1m), C Boyle 0-3.