Waterford prove too strong for Laois

Waterford’s Senior Hurlers moved to the top of Division 1B of this years Allianz National Hurling League on Saturday evening after they comprehensively beat Laois at Fraher Field on a 3-21 to 0-12 score line.

At the end of a tight opening half, there was confusion around the ground as to what  the correct half time score was, as the scoreboard showed Waterford to be leading 0-10 to 0-8, but on the all important referee’s note book Waterford held a three point lead. The confusion came in the closing minutes of the half when an effort from distance by Austin Gleeson was waved wide, and no white flag was waved despite indications from the Cork referee that the Mount Sion man’s effort had gone inside the upright.

The final score might suggest that Waterford were well on top in what was a game where the majority of scores came from frees, but this was not the case.

Laois were first out of the traps and in the first half the sides were locked together on seven occasions. And in the second half where Waterford did prove to be better of the two sides, it has to be remembered that the visitors finished the game with fourteen men after Cha’ O’Dwyer was sent off on 48 minutes after he collected a second yellow card, a point in the game where the home side had only increased their half time advantage by two points.

Not surprisingly, Pauric Mahony again finished top scorer, hitting 1-14 of his sides tally, nine points of which came from frees, while seven other players chipped in for the home side with scores of a smaller tally to get their names on the score sheet as well.

For Laois however, they heavily relied on Zane Keenan for their scores, hitting nine of his sides twelve points, all of which came from placed balls, something that will have be worked upon if the side are to win a place in the quarter finals of the league, with three games still to play.

The visitors cause was also not helped when Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher had to leave the field after a half an hour with what looked to be a serious shoulder injury which could rule him out of this week’s Fitzgibbon Cup game for Carlow IT.

Zane Keenan opened the scoring here after two minutes, but it was soon cancelled out with an effort from Pauric Mahony and the same player gave Waterford the lead for the first time on five minutes when he put over a free.

Willie Hyland pulled a point back for Laois before Brian O’Halloran and Ross King traded scores to tie the scoring at 0-3 each after ten minutes.

Zane Keenan edged Laois back in front on 13 minutes with an effort from a placed ball, after which Pauric Mahony kept the scoreboard operator busy with a brace of points on 18 and 20 minutes to give Waterford a 0-5 to 0-4 lead.

Zane Keenan and Michael Walsh traded scores by the twenty-third minute to keep Waterford one in front, which were followed with efforts from the respective top scorers for each side with twenty-seven minutes played.

Paddy Purcell levelled matters for the sixth time on twenty eight minutes and shortly afterwards confusion descended on Fraher Field when Austin Gleeson’s effort looked as if it had cut inside the upright but the umpire waved it wide. TV pictures would later clearly show that the ball did go inside the uprights.

Zane Keenan levelled matters on thirty one minutes with another free for the visitors, but Waterford would finish stronger as they hit the last three scores of the half, Pauric Mahony hitting a brace with Austin Gleeson striking in between to give Waterford a 0-11 to 0-8 lead at the break.

If the first half was a tight affair, the second proved to be all one way traffic, as Waterford pressed on playing the lass twenty two plus minutes of the game with a man advantage, to record what was an important win.

While the win was welcome, and the margin of it was also important as score difference could well play a roll as to who moves up to division 1A next year, the real pleasing part was Waterford in the second half hit three goals, as we as supporters are often critical for not hitting the net as often as they should.

The second half started as the first did with a point from Zane Keenan, to draw Laois to within two of Waterford.

However, Pauric Mahony hit three in a row between the thirty-eight and forty-sixth minutes to open a five point advantage for Waterford.

Laois had their numbers cut two minutes later when Cha O’Dwyer was sent off harshly in the eyes of some, but correctly by the referee in line with rules introduced last year when it comes to tattles using the hurley or hand up around the neck or head areas.

It was after this that Waterford opened up and went on to win the game comfortably.

Shane Bennett put over a point on fifty-one minutes to open a six point lead for Waterford and when the same player a minute later finished off an inch perfect pass from Jake Dillon to the Laois net for the games first goal.

Pauric Mahony hit the next four scores of the game to increase Waterford’s lead, one of which were Waterford’s second goal of the game on fifty-eight minutes, following some good work by Shane O’Sullivan and Michael Walsh in the build up.

Zane Keenan pulled a point back for Laois on sixty-two minutes, but it was only a matter of seconds before Waterford were back in control, scoring a third goal on sixty three minutes, this time Tommy Connors was the finished less than fifteen seconds after coming on as a sub for Pauric Mahony.

Zane Keenan with a brace of frees pulled two points back for Waterford, but it was goals they needed and with time running down, even if Stephen O’Keeffe would be beaten, it was merely going to put a gloss on the score board.

Waterford landed the last two scores of the game through subs Shane O’Sullivan and Donie Breathnach to give the home side an eighteen point win.

Next up for Waterford is an away game against Offaly on March 8, the same day Laois are away to Antrim.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; Phillip Mahony, A Gleeson, T Bourke; K Moran, J Barron; M Kearney, Pauric Mahony, M Walsh; S Bennett, T Devine, B O'Halloran. Subs: J Dillon for Kearney (half-time), S O'Sullivan for Devine (45), P Prendergast for Fives (49), D Breathnach for Bennett (59), T Connors for Pauric Mahony (64).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 1-14 (9f), S Bennett 1-1, T Connors 1-0, A Gleeson 0-2, B O'Halloran, M Walsh, S O'Sullivan and D Breathnach 0-1 each.

Laois - E Rowland; J A Delaney; C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, D Palmer; Z Keenan, P Purcell; C Dwyer, J Campion, W Hyland; S Maher, T Fitzgerald, R King. Subs - C Stapleton for Maher (inj, 26), PJ Scully for Campion, B Conroy for King (both half-time), C Dunne for Stapleton (52), J Purcell for Fitzgerald (64).

Scorers: Z Keenan 0-9 (9f), P Purcell, W Hyland and R King 0-1 each.

Referee - D Kirwan (Cork)