Allianz HL D2 Final: Impressive Laois triumph

Allianz Hurling League Division Two Final

Laois 3-18 Kerry 0-13

By Alan Hartnett at Laois Hire O'Moore Park

Laois have been crowned Allianz Hurling League Division Two.

Tommy Fitzgerald's charges needed a last gasp Cormac Byrne score to beat the Kingdom in the regulation phase of this competition.

There was no repeat here as they blew their Christy Ring opponents away to conclude their league campaign with a 100 per cent record.

Laois made a dream start against the wind with two goals coming in the opening five minutes.

The first was batted in by Tomas Keyes after he reacted first to a blocked down effort from Ryan Mullaney and raced clear under the stand before finishing cleverly.

The second then came when a free from Podge Delaney was batted down by Mullaney and Cillian Dunne unleashed a thunderbolt into the bottom corner.

Kerry did score points from Jordan Brick and Liam Og Connor but two Aaron Dunphy frees and a wonderful Tomas Keyes point left Laois 2-3 to 0-2 ahead after 15 minutes.

Laois continued to grow their lead as the half went on with Tomas Keyes, Aaron Dunphy, and Jack Kelly all pointing from varying angles.

Kerry stayed somewhat in touch as Michael Leane, Jordan Brick, Ronan Walsh and Michael Slattery all used the breeze to point from distance.

Laois were by far the better team as Aidan Corby, Fiachra C-Fennell and Jack Kelly joined the scoresheet by half-time.

With Aaron Dunphy leading the line in excellent fashion from full forward, Laois led 2-11 to 0-8 at half time but would now have the aid of the strong breeze.

That was a telling factor as Laois essentially put the game to bed by the 41st minute.

Aaron Dunphy pointed a free and then Kerry hit three wides before an effort from Fiachra C-Fennell from 60 metres out ended up in the net.

The game really petered out after that with Laois going scoreless for 15 minutes before Aaron Dunphy landed a brace.

Kerry had loads of chances in that period, but aside from two Liam O'Connor frees and a score from Tom Doyle, their shooting was erratic which left Laois 13 clear with 57 minutes played.

The gap was extended by one more before the end as Laois were crowned champions.

Scorers for Laois: Aaron Dunphy 0-11 (7fs), Tomas Keyes 1-2, Fiachra C-Fennell 1-0, Cillian Dunne 1-0, Ben Conroy, David Dooley, Jack Kelly, Cody Comerford, and Aidan Corby 0-1 each

Scorers for Kerry: Liam Og O'Connor 0-4 (3fs), Ronan Walsh 0-3 (2fs), Jordan Brick 0-2, Michael Leane, Tom Doyle, Michael Slattery and Padraig Boyle 0-1 each

Laois: Cathal Dunne; Ian Shanahan, Lee Cleere, Cody Comerford; Ciaran McEvoy, Podge Delaney, Fiachra C-Fennell; David Dooley, Aidan Corby; James Keyes, Jack Kelly, Ryan Mullaney; Cillian Dunne, Aaron Dunphy, Tomas Keyes.

Subs: Ben Conroy for J Keyes (49), Martin Phelan for Dunne (50), Gearoid Lynch for Kelly (55), Cormac Byrne for Corby (62), Diarmaid Conway for Shanahan (65), Luke Rochford for Brick (69).

Kerry: Conor Bohane; Eric Leen, Sean McGrath, Kyle O'Connor; James O'Connor, Jason Diggins, Michael Leane; Kevin Goulding, Ronan Walsh; Tom Doyle, Colin Walsh, Jordan Brick; Liam Og Connor, Daniel Casey, Michael Slattery.

Subs: Adam Segal for Goulding (39), Ivan Conway for R Walsh and Padraig Boyle for Slattery (both 55), Evan Murphy for Diggins (63).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)