ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B RELEGATION PLAY/OFF

KERRY 2-27 LAOIS 1-19

By Rory Delaney at Austin Stack Park, Tralee

Kerry secured their Allianz NHL Division 1B status with a commanding 11 point win over Laois in Tralee on Saturday evening.

The first meeting between these sides was a high scoring affair and this was a similar contest.

Kerry took a narrow early lead courtesy of a couple of points from Shane Nolan, but Laois pounced for a goal moments later. PJ Scully picked up a breaking ball 21 yards out and fed Stephen Maher, who rifled the sliotar to the back of the net.

Rather than be upset by the setback, Kerry hit back in rapid fashion, as two points in less than a minute had them level at 0-6 to 1-3.

From then until half time they dominated exchanges, with their half-forward line causing Laois plenty of problems.

Shane Nolan, Michael O'Leary, and Brendan O'Leary finished the half with 0-12 between them, as Laois were hanging on with scores from Cha Dwyer and PJ Scully.

Kerry's excellence saw them finish the half with an incredible 17 points, as they headed to the dressing room to thunderous applause from the home support, leading 0-17 to 1-8.

The second half saw Laois get off a bright start as they tried to chase down Kerry's lead, but the hosts took a massive step towards victory when John Egan fired in their first goal.

Laois tried to bounce back from that setback, but when Willie Dunphy and Ross King were red-carded in quick succession, it ended their hopes.

Shane Nolan got a second goal for Kerry before Willie Hyland became the third Laois man to be dismissed with Kerry running out deserving winners.

Scorers for Kerry: S Nolan 1-8 (6fs), J Egan 1-6, M O'Leary 0-4, J Griffin, B O'Leary, M Boyle, J Goulding 0-2 each, C Harty 0-1.

Scorers for Laois: PJ Scully 0-8 (4f, 65), S Maher 1-1, C Dwyer 0-3, W Hyland, C Healy 0-2 each, P Purcell, W Dunphy, E Rowland (f) 0-1 each.

Kerry: A McCabe; B Murphy, P Kelly, K Carmody; J Diggins, D Dineen, T Murnane; J Griffin, D Collins; B O'Leary, M O'Leary, S Nolan; J Conway, M Boyle, J Egan. Subs: J Goulding for Conway (ht), T Casey for Collins (44), C Harty for B O'Leary (56), J O'Connor for Egan (65).

Laois: E Rowland;  D Maher, R Mullaney, C Healy; L Bergin, M Whelan, T Delaney; P Purcell, C Stapleton; W Hyland, C Dwyer, J Lennon; W Dunphy, S Maher, PJ Scully. Subs: N Foyle for Whelan (22, inj), J Phelan for Delaney (44), R King for Lennon (46), B Reddin for Bergin (67).

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).