Laois’ immaculate start to Division 2 of the NHL continued on Sunday when they travelled to TEG Cusack Park to tackle Westmeath, and thanks to a wondrous second half display from Mossy Keyes, they came away with a big victory.
With four wins from four now in the bag, a final berth is almost guaranteed for Laois with Meath and London left to play, and most importantly, a spot in the final would also guarantee an immediate return to Division 1 hurling for 2027.
Conditions were tough in Mullingar with a strong wind blowing, which favoured the hosts in the first half and that coupled with their own defensive tactics made it a very tight battle for the opening 35 minutes, resulting in the sides going in level at the break, though Laois did flex their muscles at time throughout the half and Westmeath were lucky not to be down.
The second half was a different story, however, as Laois took complete control after the initial feeling-out period in the opening minutes, as they made it 1-8 to no reply in the space of ten minutes to take a commanding lead. Mossy Keyes was crucial in that second half period and he finished with a personal tally of 1-12 after a great performance, while James Keyes finished with four from play.
Westmeath began the game very defensively, leaving just Dean Ennis and Josh Coil inside, which left them isolated for the majority of the half, though they did cause some consternation early on as Laois failed to clear a long ball in from the off and it resulted in a pointed free for David Williams, the man who did the bulk of Westmeath's scoring.
There was one notable positional change for Laois from the off as Ryan Mullaney slotted in at half-forward and that paid dividends with the Castletown man slotting their first from play before Mossy Keyes showed a couple of flashes of brilliance to point twice from play.
Sean Jackson was called into action on a couple of occasions for the hosts as the new addition to the goals for Wesmeath denied chances for Mossy Keyes and Cillian Dunne, who were both looking dangerous inside. Keyes benefitted with a pointed 65 from Dunne's saved shot, and Mark Dowling struck from play after good work by Mullaney, but they were matched by Josh Coil and Williams.
The sides traded another brace midway through the half, with Williams on target from two placed balls before Laois replied through James Keyes from play and his cousin Mossy Keyes from a second 65.
Conditions were tough in Mullingar and though the wind was going in a different direction according to each flag dotted around the ground, Westmeath seemed to have the advantage of it, and they used it well to slot three points in a row to take the lead with a Williams free followed by scores from Darragh McCormack and Kevin Regan.
Again Mossy Keyes stepped up for Laois with a free and got the score of the half after a fantastic flick over a Westmeath head on the right wing and a beautiful finish, though a late score from Williams made in nine apiece at half-time.
Westmeath drew first in the second half with a point from Dean Ennis and they struck three times from frees through Williams (2) and Jack Gillen. Frees from Keyes and Podge Delaney kept Laois in touch in that period before they went on to run riot ten minutes into the half. The visitors landed 1-8 to no reply from Westmeath in the space of just ten minutes, effectively ending the game as a contest.
Keyes kicked off the run with a free before assisting a Podge Delaney point and then launching in the game's only goal with a brilliant finish into the top left corner of the net. The Camross man followed with two more excellent scores from play and another free before again playing a key role in a score for Fionan Mahony.
James Keyes got in on the act with a point from play before Mossy struck his twelfth and final point of the day. Westmeath got a few scores back late on the game through Williams as the marksman landed four points from frees, but the jig was up for the hosts.
There was some excitement still left in the game for Laois, however, with James Keyes striking another two good scores from play before the return of Picky Maher was warmly welcomed by the travelling support, and he thanked them with two points from play of his own to see out a brilliant win.
Laois will welcome Meath to O’Moore Park on Sunday, March 8, and two weeks later, they will make the trip to Ruislip to take on London in the final round of the league portion.
FINAL SCORE
Laois 1-23
Westmeath 0-17
SCORERS - Laois: Mossy Keyes 1-12 (seven frees, two 65s), James Keyes 0-4, Podge Delaney (one free) and Stephen Maher 0-2 each, Mark Dowling, Fionan Mahony and Ryan Mullaney 0-1 each. Westmeath: David Williams 0-12 (ten frees, one 65), Jack Gillen (free), Josh Coil, Dean Ennis, Kevin Regan and Darragh McCormack 0-1 each.
LAOIS: Cathal Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla); Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill), Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla), Cody Comerford (The Harps); Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis), Padraig Delaney (The Harps), Eoin Gaughan (Camross); David Dooley (Rosenallis), Aidan Corby (Clough-Ballacolla); James Keyes (Colt-Shanahoe), Jack Kelly (Rathdowney-Errill), Ryan Mullaney (Castletown); Cillian Dunne (Clough-Ballacolla), Mark Dowling (Camross), Tomás Keyes (Camross). Subs: Fionan Mahony (Abbeyleix) for Corby (ht), Ciaran McEvoy (Portlaoise) for Gaughan (49), Stephen Maher (Clough/Ballacolla) for Dunne (59), Jordan Walshe (Clough/Ballacolla) for C Fennell (60), Padraic Dunne (The Harps) for Delaney 63 - 68 (blood), Cormac Byrne (Abbeyleix) for Dowling (66)
WESTMEATH: Sean Jackson; Shane Williams, Conor Shaw, Conor McKeogh; Jack Gillen, Naoise McKenna, Rory Keyes; Mark Cunningham, Jack Kearney; Josh Coil, David Williams, Kevin Regan; Dean Ennis, Darragh McCormack, Eamonn Cunneen. Subs: Peter Clarke for Coil (ht), Andrew Shaw for McKeogh (48), Matthew Cunningham for Regan (49)
REFEREE: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)
