Round-up: Weekend's Allianz HL D2 action
Laois senior hurling team manager Tommy Fitzgerald. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division Two
Laois 1-18 Kerry 1-17
There was only one game in Division Two of the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday afternoon, but it provided three or four games’ worth of drama at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, where Cormac Byrne struck the decisive winner in the battle between two of the three sides that went into the weekend unbeaten.
The match programme at Laois Hire O’Moore Park recalled last year’s Joe McDonagh Cup fixture between Laois and Kerry where James Duggan’s incredible five-goal haul powered Laois to a comprehensive win over the Kingdom, but that was never on the cards as the visiting Munster men offered yet more evidence of their progress under John Griffin.
The inclement conditions ruled out another high scoring game, but this fixture was engaging as Kerry brought no end of intensity, the tone set by some excellent turnovers and plays from team captain James O’Connor in the half-back line and Eric Leen behind him.
Scores didn’t come easy and most of the flags were raised by dead balls from Ronan Walsh and Aaron Dunphy, however the first half was punctuated by some superb scores from play from David Dooley, Jordan Conway, Ryan Mullaney and Kevin Goulding.
The wind wasn’t overly strong, but still Kerry’s 0-9 to 0-8 half-time lead felt inadequate. For 20 minutes the sides went point for point but the bit of extra space was allowing Jack Kelly to thrive and he hit two of his four second half scores in quick succession to extend the lead to three points.
Kerry rallied and got back to within one but a turnover and attack set up Colin Byrne, who was tripped by Kyle O’Connor, leading to a black card and a penalty. Pádraig Delaney hammered the sliotar to the net meaning Kerry needed a goal of their own, and they went after it by dropping a 65 into the goalmouth in the third minute of stoppage time.
Oisín Maunsell scooped up the break and whipped the ball to the net, but there was still enough time for Laois to mount one last attack, resulting in Cormac Byrne batting the ball over the bar to put Laois well in control of their promotion destiny.
