Laois Minor footballers defeat Longford to end Leinster campaign with All-Ireland Series to follow

Ger Slevin’s Laois Minor footballers have gotten their first win in this year’s Leinster Minor Football Championship after they got the better of Longford on Saturday. 

The game was essentially a dead rubber as Laois were rooted to the bottom of the table while Longford had already secured their place in the semi-finals. 

Laois 0-15   

Longford 1-6

The sides were deadlocked at 0-6 apiece at the break with wing-back Conor Doherty landing a brace of points for Longford who were left to rue the failure to convert a penalty in the early stages of the second half. 

James Hagan was fouled by the Laois keeper Liam Conroy in the square but he made amends when producing a fine save to stop the spot kick taken by Keelan Hudson.

Although eliminated to the new Tier 3 competition after losing to Dublin and Offaly, there was a much greater urgency shown by Laois on the resumption in adding another nine points to their emphatic tally in a wave of slick attacks. 

Longford were on the brink of failing to register a solitary score in the second half but they managed to snatch a last gasp  consolation goal in the third minute of stoppage time with James Hagan blasting the ball to the net following a well-worked move.   

The home county were a lot more fluent in the first half and led by 0-6 to 0-4 approaching the break with midfielder Sean Fagan most unfortunate not to score a goal when he blasted the ball against the crossbar in the 18th minute. 

Fagan had to settle for a point in this fast flowing move while also on target for Longord in the first half were Cian O’Donnell (free), Keelan Hudson, Conor Doherty (2) and Josh Marsh, the latter score a goal chance. 

Laois, who were a constant threat up front, also created a couple of goal chances with Conor O’Callaghan shooting over the bar in the 25th minute and a strong finish to the first half produced two more points through Ruairi Bourke and Ennae Byrne.

Thus the sides were all square at the interval but it was all about Laois in the second half who fired over nine more points through Ultan Dunne (free), Calum McElroy (2), Byrne (2), Robbie Murphy, Bourke and Darren Brennan (2) to run out comfortable winners in the finish.

The visitors were completely in control on the changeover and almost scored a goal when a dipping shot from McElroy hit the post in the 44th minute with the Longford keeper James Ross well beaten. 

Laois now head for Tier 3 of the All-Ireland series which kicks-off on Saturday, May 18.