Round-up: Allianz HL D2 action
Tomás Keyes is a key performer for Laois. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division Two
Laois 1-23 Westmeath 0-17
London 3-7 Derry 0-14
Meath 0-20 Mayo 1-12
Laois remain the form team in Division Two of the Allianz Hurling League after they produced a sensational final third to overwhelm Westmeath, earning a fourth consecutive win in this year’s campaign, leaving them on the precipice of an immediate return to the second tier of league hurling.
The early stages of the game were competitive with the lead changing hands a few times, but the signs were there that Laois were that little bit more incisive up front as they drew a couple of excellent saves from Seán Jackson in the Westmeath goal.
Ten minutes into the second half it was Westmeath who led by 0-13 to 0-11, the vast majority of their scores coming from frees from the stick of David Williams, but Laois roared back into the game with a run of 1-8 unanswered.
Tomás Keyes matched Williams in terms of white flags with a dozen apiece, but the Laois attacker also added the game’s only goal in the 46th minute after a strong run right at the Westmeath defence.
James Keyes added four from play while veteran attacker Stephen Maher came on to score two late insurance points, confirming a result that leaves it very tight between Westmeath, Meath and Kerry for the second promotion spot.
Meath are in second place, but they are the only one of the trio who have yet to face the O’Moore County, though they will feel confident about their prospects after putting in another very solid display in windy conditions in East Mayo yesterday.
The breeze played a key role at Adrian Freeman Park in Tooreen where Meath had the aid of the elements in the opening half and peppered the Mayo goal to lead by 0-16 to 0-3, with 12 wides also accrued. Mark Leavy (0-4), Tom Shine (0-8) and Mikey Cole (0-3) led the scoring for the Royal County, but three quickfire points after the restart from Cormac Phillips (two) and Eoin Delaney suggested that Mayo might make a close contest of it.
Two points in the next 15 minutes slowed their momentum as Daire Shine and Seán Geraghty led a strong defensive effort and by the time Mayo got their goal through a Seán Kenny penalty, injury time was about to start and they didn’t have enough time to try and push on.
At the foot of the table, London’s 3-7 to 0-14 win over Derry at Find Insurance Celtic Park was a vital win that takes the Exiles out of the bottom two and leaves their fate in their own hands with one game left, at home to Laois in three weeks’ time.
It’s possible that London won’t need anything from that game as Derry now have to pick up a win away to Westmeath next week in their final game, all while reflecting on a performance where they held London to just two second half frees, but were undone by their own tally of 15 wides.
Those misses include an early 20 metre free and a Tiernan Melaugh goal chance, while at the other end Fionn Ó Riain Broin gave London an early lead with a goal, followed up by two green flags in 60 seconds from Fionn Whelan and Jack Morrissey.
Derry hit the first four points of the second half to cut the gap to three (3-5 to 0-11) with 20 minutes to play, but they just couldn’t get a run going at any stage and ultimately the clock ran out on their chances.
