Magical Mossy to the fore as Laois defeat Westmeath in Joe McDonagh Cup opener

The Laois senior hurlers got their Joe McDonagh Cup campaign off to the best possible start as they defeated Westmeath in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday afternoon.

Laois had some great performances all over the field, with Mossy Keyes top-scoring with 1-8, while Paddy Purcell and Jer Quinlan finished with four points each.

Laois 3-25

Westmeath 1-22

This game didn't set the world alight in the early stages, as only eight points were scored in the first 20 minutes. Laois captain David Dooley set up Podge Delaney to raise the game's first white flag after two minutes. Westmeath responded with three points on the trot to lead three points to one with five minutes on the clock. David O'Reilly, Killian Doyle and Peter Clarke scored a point each. Laois almost had a goal soon after as Ben Conroy saw his shot saved by Ciaran O'Brien after great play from Dooley and Cha Dwyer.

Mossy Keyes levelled the game with a point from the resulting 65' and a free. O'Reilly and a free from Killian Doyle pushed the away side in front again, but Laois replied with four points of their own. Aidan Corby, Mossy Keyes, Jer Quinlan and Paddy Purcell all slotted the ball between the posts. David Williams replaced Davy Glennon and scored with his first touch before Laois raised the game's first green flag. Niall Mitchell missed a one-on-one down one end, and no more than 30 seconds later, Mossy Keyes had the ball in the top-corner of the Westmeath net. Purcell put Laois five points in front with 27 minutes played when he scored his second point of the day.

Jordan Walshe got a great score from play before he was forced off with an injury. Doyle replied with a point for Westmeath, but once again, Laois hit four points in a row. The scores came off the sticks of Dooley, Mossy, Purcell and Conroy. Peter Clarke replied for Westmeath's ninth score of the game while Doyle did likewise. Laois pointed three further scores before the break, courtesy of Dooley, Purcell, and Mossy leaving them heading for the dressing room with a nine-point lead (1-16 to 0-10).

It was a Mossy free that landed between the posts to open the second half's scoring, while Quinlan followed up after a super run from Dooley played him in. The visitors replied with a free from Doyle while Clarke pointed from play. Conroy pointed for Laois after a one-two with Mossy before Tom Cuddy sent a long ball in which dropped to the hurl of Conroy and into the back of the net. Westmeath went onto their largest scoring streak of the game when they pointed four in a row through two from Doyle, one from a placed ball, along with Robbie Greville and Niall O'Brien adding their names to the scoresheet. 

The home side kept the scores firing over with Quinlan and two from Mossy increasing their tallies. Doyle got two points back for Westmeath with a free and one from play. The game was over with the next score as Ben Conroy got his second goal of the game after a great ball into space by Podge Delaney. Cathal Dunne made two great saves from Doyle and Williams to hold onto that clean sheet for Laois.

Substitute Martin Phelan came on and scored just before Laois were awarded a penalty after a foul on Conroy. Mossy stepped up, but saw his penalty saved by Ciaran O'Brien. Doyle (free) and Clarke put more points on the board for the away side. James Duggan and Quinlan pointed for Laois late on, as did Eamon Cunneen (65') and Clarke for Westmeath. The final score of the game saw Laois lose their clean sheet as Doyle drilled a 21-yard free past Dunne. 

Next up for Laois is a tough trip to Down next weekend.