D1B: Limerick humble Laois in one-sided affair
The Gaelic Grounds at Limerick
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE D1B: LIMERICK 6-29 LAOIS 1-12
By Declan Rooney
Limerick had no trouble picking up a fourth win of their Division IB campaign on Saturday evening as TJ Ryan’s forwards filled their boots at the Gaelic Grounds against Laois.
Even without Declan Hannon and Cian Lynch, Limerick were unstoppable as 2-2 from Barry Nash in the first-half was bettered by a whopping 1-14 from John Fitzgibbon who assumed the freetaking duties in Hannon’s absence.
Further goals from Graeme Mulcahy, Pat Ryan and the returning James Ryan put a deserving slant on the scoreboard as Limerick were fully worthy of the 32-point winning margin.
Limerick still need to beat rivals Clare in their final league game next weekend if they wish to claim the sole promotion spot available from Division 1B and the teams’ head-to-head record will decide who is promoted if they finish level on points.
As early as the third minute Limerick struck their first goal when Nash blasted low past Eoin Reilly. With Paul Browne, Tom Morrissey and Fitzgibbon in great form, Limerick continued to pile on the scores and when Nash blasted his second in the 27th minute Limerick led by 2-13 to 0-4.
That tally was immediately swelled by another goal within a minute when Nash sent Fitzgibbon in for a final goal and the 3-15 to 0-6 half-time lead did not flatter the home side.
After the break Ciaran Collier and Charles Dwyer retaliated briefly for Laois, but there was no stopping Limerick. Mulcahy hit a great goal when he cut in along the endline in the 44th minute and his side’s fifth goal arrived 14 minutes later when Pat Ryan blasted to the net.
The impressive PJ Scully did goal for Laois seven minutes from time, but it was a mere consolation as Michael Ryan scored a sixth goal for Limerick before the end. It was utterly convincing.
Scorers for Limerick: J Fitzgibbon 1-14 (9f), B Nash 2-2, G Mulcahy 1-1, P Browne 0-4, T Morrissey 0-4; M Ryan, P Ryan 1-0; K O’Brien 0-2; G O’Mahony, D Byrne 0-1 (1f)
**Scorers for Laois: **PJ Scully 1-5 (4f), C Dwyer 0-3, C Collier, R Mullaney 0-1.
LIMERICK: B Hennessy; T Condon, R McCarthy, S O’Brien; P O’Brien D Byrnes, S Hickey; P Ryan, P Browne, G O’Mahony, T Morrissey, J Fitzgibbon; G Mulcahy, K O’Brien, B Nash. Subs: G Hegarty for S O’Brien (h-t), M Ryan for Nash (h-t), W McNamara for Byrnes (45), B O’Connell for Browne (59).
LAOIS: E Reilly; J Phelan, D Maher, C Healy; L Bergin, N Foyle, R Mullaney; P Purcell, C Collier; C Dwyer, S Maher, M Whelan; W Dunphy, W Hyland, PJ Scully. **Subs: **J Walsh for Foyle (h-t), T Delaney for Bergin (h-t), R King for Purcell (h-t), O Carroll for Phelan (48), J Ryan for O’Mahony (51), C Stapleton for Dunphy (63).
**Referee: **James McGrath (Westmeath).
