Tipperary too strong as Laois hurling year ends in heavy defeat

The Laois senior hurlers’ 2025 campaign came to an end on Saturday afternoon in Portlaoise, as Tipperary cruised to a dominant 23-point win in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

Slow starts to both halves proved costly for Laois. Tipperary opened with 1-5 unanswered and hit two goals in a 90-second blitz shortly after the break to put the result beyond doubt.

Tipperary 3-32

Laois 0-18

Tipp meant business from the outset, registering the game’s first point inside 20 seconds through Jason Forde. Willie Connors and a free from Darragh McCarthy quickly followed before Forde blasted to the net with a superb finish. Connors added two more points as the visitors led 1-5 to no score after just four minutes.

Paddy Purcell opened Laois’ account in the fifth minute, moments before Cathal Dunne pulled off a fine one-on-one save to deny McCarthy. The Tipp corner-forward converted the resulting 65'. Purcell added his and Laois' second point two minutes later. McCarthy (free) and Sam O'Farrell added scores for Tipp before Laois had a goal chance, Mossy Keyes’ shot was saved by Rhys Skelly, and while Purcell followed up, his effort was deflected and cleared.

Podge Delaney pointed for Laois, with John McGrath responding for Liam Cahill’s side. Laois’ fifth point was a flowing team move, starting with a short puck-out and ending with James Keyes firing over after good work by Lee Cleere. Dunne was again in inspired form, producing a double save from Forde and McGrath. McCarthy pointed the resulting free after Forde was fouled before his shot. Andrew Ormond opened his account for Tipp, with Mossy Keyes replying with two frees to leave Laois trailing 1-11 to 0-7.

McGrath added his second point, before a Keyes free and a long-range effort from Donnchadh Hartnett closed the gap. Ormond and Keyes traded scores again, but Tipperary responded with two without reply. Corner-back Robert Doyle surged forward to score, while McCarthy landed his first from play to take his tally to five. Laois replied with two more before the break, Keyes from a free and play. Connors, Ormond, and a free from McCarthy saw Tipp take a 1-18 to 0-12 lead into half-time.

Purcell gave Laois a bright start to the second half with a point inside 35 seconds, but by the time they scored again in the 40th minute, Tipp had hit 2-1. O’Farrell got the first goal, a McCarthy free added to the tally, and then Forde netted his second in the space of 90 seconds.

Keyes pointed from a free, but Tipp hit three more without reply through McCarthy, Joe Caesar and Connors. McGrath then rattled the crossbar with Dunne beaten. Keyes responded with a superb point from under the stand, but Tipp tagged on four more from McCarthy (free), Alan Tynan and two from Forde to extend their lead even further.

Aaron Dunphy came off the bench to add a point for Laois, while Forde, McGrath and Joe Fogarty all replied for Tipp. Keyes (free) and Purcell grabbed the last two points for the home side, but Tipperary finished strong with three more scores from Oisin O'Donoghue, Peter McGarry and a free from Forde to seal an emphatic 3-32 to 0-18 victory.