[ad_1]
What’s uncommon is fantastic and even a Division 4 league ultimate supplied adequate trigger for his or her supporters to journey to Dublin on an Easter Saturday, bringing hopes of a uncommon piece of silverware. However they have been shot down by Laois who hit 12 wides however their superior scoring energy was nonetheless the telling issue.
Laois aren’t any strangers to taking part in right here and have been in Croke Park as just lately as final yr when struggling a heavy Tailteann Cup defeat by Down. Regardless of struggling the one lack of their latest league marketing campaign to Leitrim in Portlaoise, they topped the group and justified their billing as favourites to win.
The squad has been ransacked since that Down defeat with an enormous exodus between gamers who’ve gone overseas, retried or are at present struggling accidents. They led 1-7 to 0-6 on the interval, regardless of capturing seven wides to only one from Leitrim. And a second aim after Evan O’Carroll gained a Leitrim kick out and fed the finisher, Eoin Lowry, put paid to Leitrim’s prospects, opening up a six-point lead within the forty eighth minute.
Leitrim had hit a good streak shortly earlier than Lowry’s aim, scoring three unanswered factors from 5 factors down, however the concession of a second aim was devastating. Barry McNulty had a half aim likelihood within the 57th minute however discovered himself crowded out and the Laois victory was put past doubt when the spectacular Lowry hit a pleasant kick go to Paul Kingston who scored a 3rd aim within the 62nd minute.
The Connacht aspect began the sport promisingly and had a rating after 13 seconds from the full of life Riordan O’Rourke, who quickly doubled his tally, whereas his cousin Ryan O’Rourke kicked two stunning scores within the first half and Mark Plunkett had one other tidy end with the breeze.
However there wasn’t sufficient penetration they usually blew their aim likelihood when it got here within the 14th minute, with wing again Donal Wrynn needing extra conviction after his incisive run had an pointless stall as he appeared for an off-load, not trusting himself. When he determined he was the most suitable choice the chance was misplaced and he shot tamely, caught in two minds, at Killian Roche.
Leitrim’s larger assist cheered at very putridity however Laois have been extra dexterous in assault with the primary risk being O’Carroll, who scored 4 first-half factors, and completed with six and the man-of-the-match award. Certainly one of his factors was a aim try that cleared the cross bar. A couple of minutes into the sport one other O’Carroll effort got here off the underside of the crossbar earlier than play was known as again for a foul on the complete ahead.
Whereas Leitrim missed their aim likelihood, Laois made no mistake when offered with theirs within the 18th minute after the groups have been degree 3 times within the opening quarter. Leitrim held again Jack Gilheaney as an additional defender however Laois have been nonetheless capable of finding pockets of area. A lack of focus allowed O’Carroll to pick Shaun Fitzpatrick unmarked and he laid the ball throughout the Leitrim aim the place the busy nook again Ben Dempsey flicked into the online.
At one stage Laois stretched their result in 5 factors, earlier than Ryan O’Rourke and keeper Nevin O’Donnell, from a 50m free, lowered the hole to a aim nearing half time. The final rating of the half went to O’Carroll, changing the free he’d earned in damage time. Leitrim keeper O’Donnell was his aspect’s prime scorer with three factors which tells its personal story.
Leitrim can nonetheless stay up for life in Division 3 subsequent yr and should rapidly transfer on from this defeat with Sligo in Carrick-on-Shannon within the Connacht soccer championship subsequent Sunday.
Scorers
Laois – E O’Carroll 0-6 (3 fs), P Kingston, E Lowry 1-2 every, B Dempsey 1-0, M Barry 0-2, R Murphy, Okay Lillis (M) 0-1 every.
Leitrim – N O’Donnell 0-3 (1 f, 1 45), Ryan O’Rourke, Riordan O’Rourke 0-2 every, M Plunkett, B McNulty 0-1 every.
Laois: Okay Roche; B Dempsey, S Lacey, J Kelly; E Buggie, M Timmons, B Byrne; Okay Lillis, D Larkin; Okay Swayne, E Lowry, S Fitzpatrick; M Barry, E O’Carroll, P Kingston.
Subs: S Fingleton for Byrne (52); C Heffernan for Lillis (62); R Murphy for Kingston (63); N Dunne for Fitzpatrick (64); M Dempsey for Swayne (66).
Leitrim: N O’Donnell; C Reynolds, M Diffley, A Flynn; D Wrynn, D Casey, J Foley; J Gilheany, P Dolan; M Plunkett, D Rooney, B McNulty; T Prior, Ryan O’Rourke, Riordan O’Rourke.
Subs: E Sweeney for Reynolds (20); P Keaney for Prior (42); S Quinn for Riordan O’Rourke (51); A Reynolds for Casey (inj 61); J Rooney for Flynn (67).
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).
[ad_2]
Source link
