Laois hit for six by Cork in All-Ireland Championship opener in Portlaoise

Stephen Duff's Laois Ladies' side have suffered defeat in the opening round of this year's TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship after Cork fired in six goals in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this afternoon.

Laois struggled to compete with Cork in many areas of the field as Cork ran directly at them time and time again.

Cork 6-13

Laois 1-5

Cork took the game to Laois from the start as they racked up 1-4 in the first 10 minutes of the contest. Katie Quirke opened the scoring with a free while Emma Cleary raised two white flags in succession. Sadbh McGoldrick got their fourth point before a slack pass from Eimear Barry saw Ava McAuliffe brought down inside the square. Daire Kiely stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.

Amy McDonagh added another point for the away side while McAuliffe raised a second Cork green flag. Mo Nerney fired home past Sarah Murphy earning Laois’ only score of the half after a superb pass into her by Emily Lacey. Cork added four more points to their tally courtesy of Cleary, Abbie and Laura O’Mahony, and Quirke (free), before the latter found the back of the net in the 32^nd minute of the first-half as Cork led 3-9 to 1-0 at the break.

Kiely added to her goal from the penalty spot as she kicked the ball over the black spot. Eimear Barry then made a great save on Laura O'Mahony but it proved to be in vain as Ava McAuliffe got a fourth goal for Cork. Laois hit two points in a row in reply to the goal as Mo Nerney slotted over a free while Laois substitute Aoibhe Byron scored Laois' first point from play. Two more goals would go in past Eimear Barry as Hannah Looney and Rachel Leahy fired the ball into the Laois net.

Nerney kicked her second point of the contest from a free before Cork raised three white flags on the bounce. Katie Quirke, Daire Kiely and Eimear Kiely all pointed to add to Cork's massive advantage. Mo Nerney got her first from play in the 55th minute before a lull in scores. Katie Donoghue kicked the game's final score in stoppage time as Cork ran out convincing winners.

Laois will play Galway in their final group game on Sunday, June 23 with Cork and Galway playing next weekend.