Laois cast aside Westmeath to storm to league summit
Laois 1-19 Westmeath 0-09, Mullingar
Laois are the leaders in Allianz NHL Division two after the opening round of matches. Brendan Fennelly's first match in charge got off to a very positive start with a 13-point victory for the O'Moore men.
Laois led throughout the contest, John Purcell was in superb form as the visitors made a bright start - taking an early 1-05 to 0-01 advantage.
Purcell scored 1-02 of Laois' early haul as he regularly posed problems for the Westmeath defence.
Alan Devine landed Westmeath's lone point of the opening quarter and although Devine, Brendan Murtagh and Andrew Mitchell kept the hosts in touch, Laois were 1-09 to 0-05 ahead by the break.
Fennelly's men could afford nine first-half wides, while Westmeath sent seven shots wide of the posts in the opening 35 minutes.
James Walsh, Willie Hyland and Noel Costelloe all added points as Laois opened up a 1-12 to 0-05 lead inside four minutes of the restart.
Westmeath, managed by Kevin Martin, replied with two points. However, in the final quarter, Laois were able to fire over five points to Westmeath's two and run out comfortable winners.
