Walsh’s firepower helps Laois see off Waterford

LAOIS 0-18 WATERFORD 1-11

LAOIS made it three wins from three outings in Allianz NFL Division 4 on Saturday with a hardfought victory over Waterford.

The teams were level on six occasions in O’Moore Park, with Waterford causing the hosts plenty of problems. However, the home side finally broke their resistance with a strong closing quarter to the game.

JJ Hutchinson had given Waterford the perfect start, as he scored two brilliant points in the opening four minutes. Laois took their time to settle, but Gary Walsh’s free-taking got them up and running.

Waterford were setting the pace, though, and a Hutchinson goal kept them on the front foot.

Laois finished the half strongly and led 0-8 to 1-4 at the interval.

The scores remained close in the second half, until Laois went on a run of seven points without reply to finally put some daylight between the teams, and they ran out four-point winners.

SCORERS – Laois: G Walsh 0-10 (8f); R Munnelly (f), D Kingston, K Lillis 0-2 each; A Farrell, P Kingston 0-1 each. Waterford: JJ Hutchinson 1-4 (f), J Curry 0-4 (2f), D Breathnach, C Murray, P Whyte 0-1 each. LAOIS – G Brody 6; D Holland 7, S Nerney 6, RC Fennell 6; T Collins 6, C Begley 7, G Dillon 6; J O’Loughlin 7, K Lillis 7; A Farrell 6, P Kingston 6, D O’Reilly 6; R Munnelly 7, G Walsh 8, E O’Carroll 6. Subs: D Kingston 7 for O’Carroll (h-t), D Strong 6 for Fennell (46), N Donoher 6 for Farrell (53), B Glynn 6 for O’Reilly (64), E Buggy 6 for Dillon (64), B Carroll for P Kingston (67).

WATERFORD – S Enright 7; B Looby 6, T O’Gorman 6, R O Ceallaigh 6; J McGrath 6, S Ryan 7, A Trihy 6; T Prendergast 6, M Curry 7; C Murray 7, K Power 6, D Guiry 6; J Curry 7, JJ Hutchinson 8, P Whyte 7. Subs: D Breathnach 7 for Power (50), M Cummins 6 for O Ceallaigh (52, inj), F O Currin 6 for Trihy (60), J Allen 6 for Prendergast (60, BC), M Scurry for Guiry (68).

REF – J Bermingham (Cork)