Nifty Niland causes havoc as Laois Minors beaten by Galway

The Laois Minor hurlers have been beaten for the second weekend in a row in the Leinster Minor Championship as Galway got the better of Damien Carter's side in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this afternoon.

Aaron Niland was a menace for Laois throughout the game as he fired in 1-10. Laois will look to the 10-minute period before half-time where Galway fired in 3-5 without reply.

Galway 4-28

Laois 0-11

Galway were quickest off the mark as Niland opened the scoring in the first minute. Laois responded well to the early point as Cormac Byrne got Laois' first score of the game. Niland hit two further scores, one from a free as he was proving a tricky customer to mark.

Laois captain Eoghan Murphy pointed a free with Niland doing the same at the other end. Byrne would get his second point of the game soon after before Niland got his 5th and 6th point's of the game. Galway's scores all coming through the corner-forward.

The O'Moore County had been three points down but a spell of three scores unanswered saw Laois get back level. A free and a score from play from Murphy as well as a score from half-back Eli Quinn. The next few scores were swapped as Niland pointed a free while Brian Callanan got Galway's first score that didn't come from the hurl of Niland. Murphy pointed two frees in reply.

That would be Laois' last score of the half as the Tribesmen fired in 3-5 without any response from the Laois side. Niland pointed for the eighth time while Callanan got Galway's first green flag. Vince Morgan added to Galway's tally as he struck the ball over the black spot.

Niland would soon take his tally to 1-10 as he rifled a 21-yard free into the Laois net. Callanan took his tally to 1-2 before Niland pointed yet again. Morgan got Galway's third goal of the half as a super pass from midfielder Michael Burke set him up to score. Galway leading 3-13 to 0-8 at the break.

The second-half begun with Murphy's fourth free for Carter's side. Galway would get in for goal yet again as Stephen Keane scored from close-range. Colm Burke and Byrne both scored for either side as the result was all but secured for Galway. 

Galway extended their margin with a spell of six points without reply. Michael Burke, Conor Gilligan and Callanan all raising white flags for Fergal Healy's side. The Burke's were on form as two frees from Colm Burke was followed up with a second point from midfielder Michael Burke. Jason Rabbitte and Colm Burke getting two further scores for the Tribesmen.

Laois finally broke their duct as Eoin Bracken dissected the posts. Galway weren't letting up on the scoreboard as they got a further three points from play. Substitute Eoghan Mulleady, captain Sean Murphy and Callanan all putting the sliotar over the black spot. Callanan getting the game's final score as the corner-forward fired in 1-5.

Galway winning out by an impressive margin in the end with Laois to play Antrim in Abbottstown on Friday evening in their final group game.