Laois takes the spoils in cagey league opener against Sligo

Laois's 2023 league campaign began with a trip to Markievicz park to face Sligo. Billy Sheehan's side wanted to kick off with a win if they were going to have a serious go at the division four title. 

Sligo started well holding possession for the opening couple of minutes but Laois's blanket held firm. The first score came courtesy of Eoin Lowery after five minutes, against the run of play Lowery made a good interception and slotted it over all by himself. Niall Murphy responded for Sligo almost immediately.

A well-taken mark by joint captain Evan O'Carroll edged Laois in front before Paul Kingston put the O'Moore men two up after 10 minutes. Despite the two-point deficit, it was the home side that were having the larger share of possession in the opening stages. Sligo let Laois off the hook on several occasions with some poor wides.

Laois 2-11

Sligo 0-11

Mark Barry would put Laois three up at the fifteen-minute marker. A well-worked score and the O'Demseys man showed his lethal turn of foot before curling it over in front of the stands. Laois then raised the green flag. Killeshin man Eoin Lowery finished to the back of the net from short range to put five between the teams.

Two Sligo scores in quick concession reduced the gap before Kingston converted his second of the day from a short-range free. Kingston immediately followed that score up with his third, a wonderful taken point from a tight angle in front of the stands.

Cian Lally who had moved into the Sligo full forward line brought the gap back to four. Niall Corbett canceled out Lally's score. Kingston and O'Connor then traded scores before halftime. Laois went in at the break with a 5-point advantage.

The O'Moore men despite having less of the ball were catching Sligo on the break and looked to be good value at this stage to take the spoils. They were clinical with opportunities and we're making vital turnovers in the right areas.

After dominating possession in the opening stages Sligo was rewarded with the first score of the second half. Sligo reduced the gap further thanks to a converted free from midfielder Sean Carrabine. As the rain started to pour down on Markievicz Park, Sligo began to creep back into the game. Only three points separated the sides at this stage.

Laois had a fantastic goal chance as Evan O'Caroll saw his strike blocked by Sligo netminder Daniel Lyons.
Sligo star forward Niall Murphy converted a free to leave two between them. It was 20 minutes into the second half before Laois got their first score since the break. A well-taken 45 from Evan O'Carroll

Carrabine and Kingston traded scores and the game remained on a knife edge as we headed into the last ten minutes. That was until Lee Walker who was only on the pitch less than thirty seconds, finished beautifully to the net to put Laois six up.

Kingston would get his seventh point of the day deep into injury time. Laois ran out six-point winners in the end.
A cagey affair at times but Laois were deserving opening round victors. The half-forward line combination of Paddy O Sullivan and Paul Kingston was the real difference makers on the day. Brian Byrne also deserves credit for a very good performance from wingback.