Laois start 2023 with a 14-point loss to Longford

Billy Sheeans Laois’s side got 2023 underway with a home game against Longford. An experimental Laois side had a tough challenge on their hands as they faced a strong Longford team.

Longford started the fastest and despite two early wides, it was the away side that struck blood first. A long ball was claimed by Dessie Reynolds and he finished it lovely to the back of the net. Midfielder Fergal Sheridan followed up immediately to give Longford an early four-point lead.

After a poor kick out, Longford capitalised once again and this time the opportunity fell to full forward Daniel Mimnagh who duly obliged by putting Longford five up. Dylan Farrell put the visitors six up as Laois had yet to register a score

Mimnagh got his second score after only ten minutes to stretch the gap to seven. Laois were really struggling in the opening stages. Their best chance for even a score came in the form of an off-the-deck shot by Graiguecullen man Lee Walker. That shot was blocked by Paddy Collum.

Longford 3-18

Laois 0-13

Finally, Niall Corbet delivered Laois’s first score, a dead ball off the deck curled inside the left post. The score was soon cancelled by corner forward Dessie Reynolds. Reynolds was causing Laois some serious issues and soon had another point as he fisted over the bar to bring his tally up to 1-2.

Things went from bad to worse for the O’Moore man as Dylan Farrell burst through the defence and finished well for Longford’s second goal. The county champions’ rep Colm Murphy got off the mark in the 20th minute to slightly narrow the gap but soon after Jack Macken cancelled out Murphy’s point.

Another point from play for Dylan Carroll gave Longford a 12-point lead. With only 25 minutes gone this game was quickly passing by the experimental Laois team. Dylan Farrell converted the visitor’s first free of the game to stretch the lead further.

Niall Corbet converted his second free in late the first half but the bright spot didn’t last long as Longford converted a third goal. A messy scramble in the square fell right for Mimnagh and he finished well before Gallagher finished off a dead ball well.

Halftime came and there weren’t too many positives for Billy Sheehan to take. The one bright spot was Kevin Swayne. A very mature Longford side had the measure of the inexperienced Laois team. They held a 16-point advantage. The O’Moore men would be hopeful of producing a better showing in the second half with the wind at their backs.

Corbet opened the scoring with a well-taken dead ball from a long way out before Lee Walker and sub David McGivney traded scores. Dylan Farrell converted his second free to bring his tally for the evening to 1-4. His point was cancelled out immediately by Portlaoise man Damon Larkin. Lee Walker followed up with his second as Laois started to play a lot more positive football.

Longford hit back as Dessie Reynolds brought his tally up by one more. The gap stood at 15 points after 10 minutes had elapsed in the second period. The promising young Longford forward Jack Macken got his second soon after. Murphy would cancel Macken’s point with his second score

Corbet provided us with the score of the night as he converted a dead ball from a very tough angle and a long way out on the right-hand side. Sub McGivney restored Longford’s 15-point lead soon after with his second.  Colm Murphy’s third point meant the home side grabbed one back before Lee Walker converted his third. The Graigue man had come into his own in the second half.

Sub Evan O’Carroll converted his first as he took over dead ball duties from the replaced Niall Corbet. Longford widened the gap again in the closing stages with Points from Robbie Smyth and Jayson Matthews.

A better second half for Laois but still a 14-point defeat to start 2023. Billy Sheehan would have hoped for a better performance but it’s very early in the year and there will be no alarm bells in the county set up yet. Laois will now travel to Navan on Saturday to face Meath in what will be Colm O’Rourke’s first home game in charge of the Royal County.