Kerry 1-24
Laois 2-14
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B
Kerry’s hurlers took to life in the elevated surrounds of Division 1B in their stride on Sunday afternoon with a comfortable defeat of hosts Laois in their opening game of the campaign.
Last year’s Christy Ring Cup winners will have targeted this game and their meeting with Offaly as their most winnable appointments and they have now given themselves a huge chance of staying up with a well-deserved victory.
With ten of the side that started last year’s Christy Ring Cup final against Derry in the first 15, the visitors had plenty of experience in their ranks and they faced a Laois team missing seven key players from last year due to retirements and other reasons.
Kerry had already started well before Mikey Boyle found the net 13 minutes in but a scrambled three-pointer from Laois, seemingly by Patrick Purcell, kept the scoreboard tight.
Kerry took a 1-1 to 1-10 lead in at the break.
It should have been more.
But no matter. The Munster county dominated the next quarter and more, hitting nine points to just one free from Laois and they were ten points in front before defender Cahir Healy scored a stunning goal for Laois.
It was too little too late.
The game was over by then, but not before Laois full-forward Charlie Dwyer saw a straight red.
That summed up their forgettable day. For Kerry, this was one to remember.
Scorers for Laois: PJ Scully (0-6, 4 frees, 1 ‘45’); C Dwyer (0-4); C Healy and P Purcell (both 1-0); C Collier (0-2); M Whelan, S Maher (both 0-1).
Scorers for Kerry: S Nolan (0-8, 5 frees, 2 ‘45’); J Egan (0-4); M Boyle (1-1); J Goulding (0-3); M O’Leary, P Kelly and C Harty (all 0-2); J Griffin and J Conway (both 0-1).
Laois: E Rowland; O Carroll, D Maher, C Healy; L Bergin, N Foyle, R Mullaney; M Whelan, B Reddin; C Collier, C Dwyer, D Palmer; PJ Scully, P Purcell, S Maher. Subs: J Phelan for Reddin (47); J Lennon for Whelan (52); M Kavanagh for Palmer (56); T Delaney for D Maher (72).
Kerry: M Stockpoole; L Carmody, B Murphy, S Weir; D Collins, D Dineen, T Murnane; P Kelly, T Casey; C Harty, M O’Leary, S Nolan; J Goulding, M Boyle, J Egan. Subs: J Griffin for Dineen (58); J Conway for Egan (65).
Referee: C McAllister (Cork).