Leinster SHC: Galway survive huge Laois scare
Leinster SHC: Galway survive huge Laois scare
LEINSTER SHC QUARTER-FINAL: LAOIS 0-23 GALWAY 1-22
Galway qualified for the Leinster hurling championship semi-final on Sunday afternoon, but an excellent display from Laois at O'Moore Park almost produced the shock of the season.
A superb 20 minutes before half-time saw Laois lead 0-16 to 1-7 at the break after Galway had raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after Jonathan Glynn's early goal.
In that terrific second quarter Laois hit points from all angles and distances as they benefited from the wind advantage, but after the break, Galway improved dramatically and with Conor Cooney and Padraig Brehony beginning to find their range they pulled level by the 60th minute with six unanswered points in eight minutes
Substitute Jason Flynn proved to be the game winner though and he hit three points after his introduction in the 51st minute as Galway edged ahead of their hosts.
Another substitute Paul Killeen hit a huge point two minutes from time to give Galway the lead after Willie Hyland had earlier handed the advantage back to Laois.
And in injury-time Laois goalkeeper Eoin Reilly was denied a winning goal from a 20-metre free with Iarla Tannian getting the all important block in on the line.
Galway will need to improve massively for their semi-final clash with either Kilkenny or Offaly in three weeks time.
Scorers for Laois: T Fitzgerald, N Foyle, C Dwyer (1'sl), W Hyland, S Maher (3f) 0-3 each, T Delaney, J Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, B Stapleton, J Campion, R King, J Walsh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: C Cooney 0-7 (3f), J Glynn 1-0, J Flynn 0-3, P Brehony, N Burke, J Canning 0-2 each, J Coen, David Burke, C Mannion, D Collins, I Tannian, P Killeen 0-1 each.
LAOIS: E Reilly; JA Delaney, B Campion, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, T Delaney; J Campion, J Walsh; S Maher, D Palmer, C Dwyer; N Foyle, W Hyland, T Fitzgerald. Subs: J Purcell for Foyle (56 mins), P Whelan for J Walsh (58 mins), J Brophy for Fitzgerald (60 mins), R King for Campion (63 mins),
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Collins, R Burke, F Moore; A Harte, I Tannian, Daithi Burke; J Coen, P Brehony; C Cooney, N Burke, David Burke; C Mannion, J Canning, J Glynn. Subs: P Killeen for Harte (7-9 mins blood), D Hayes for David Burke (48 mins), J Flynn for (0-2) Mannion (51 mins), P Killeen for Harte (64 mins), D Glennon for Glynn (70 mins).
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).