Galway at their ease as Laois U-20 hurlers hammered in Leinster Championship opener

A disastrous week for Laois underage teams has gotten worse as the county's U-20 hurlers were destroyed by Galway in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday afternoon. Galway were on top from the first minute to last and cut through Laois at ease.

Galway 1-28

Laois 0-8

Galway hurled with the wind in the first-half and raised the first white flag with three minutes on the clock. Laois' Rick Bannon got their first score under new manager Derek Delaney a minute later. Laois then had a great chance for a goal as Cormac Byrne played in Mark Downey, but his swing didn't connect with the ball. A big let-off for Galway.

The Tribesmen began to take control of the game as they fired over five points unanswered in six minutes courtesy of Cullen Killeen, corner-back Conor Lawless, Jason Rabbitte and two points from Brian Callanan. Laois responded with two points of their own through Jer Quinlan and a close-range Ben Deegan free after Galway were guilty of over-carrying the ball in defence. 

Once again, Galway hit five scores on the trot as they were just finding it easier to find the space to split the posts. Aaron Niland opened his account with two points while Rory Burke pointed two placed balls, one free and one 65'. The 65' came as a result of a save from Brochan O'Reilly after Conor Gilligan took a shot on goal. Gilligan had opened his account for the game a minute before his goal chance.

Cormac Hogan will be wondering how he didn't raise a green flag as Galway goalkeeper Donagh Fahy made a superb point-blank save to deny the Clough-Ballacolla star. Rick Bannon pointed a second brilliant score before the break, but Galway ended the half with two more points courtesy of a Burke free and a second from Rabbitte. Galway went into the dressing rooms ahead 0-13 to 0-4.

Jer Quinlan got the second-half's scoring underway before Galway had two great goal chances but were denied once again by O'Reilly in the Laois goal. Burke and O'Donnell had the shots with Burke pointing a 65'. Galway did eventually get their goal as Burke rifled a penalty past O'Reilly. Laois captain Rory Kelly was shown a black-card for the penalty. The next four scores were traded as Jer Quinlan (free) and Cormac Byrne pointed for Laois while Niland and Killeen got a point each for Galway.

It was from here that the game turned into shooting practice for Galway as they scored 11 points in a 14-minute spell from minute 46 until minute 60. Rory Burke raised three white flags and Lawless pointed two while Callanan, Donnacha Campbell, Colm Burke, Michael Burke, Conor Gilligan and Paddy Mac Cárthaigh also split the posts. Laois were also reduced to 14 men in the 51st minute when Ruaidhrí Kavanagh was shown a second yellow card. Laois got a late point from a free from the hurl of Eoghan Cuddy.

Laois have a week off before travelling to face reigning All-Ireland U-20 champions Offaly in Tullamore.