Tommy Fitzgerald warns of bigger tests ahead after Laois senior hurlers ease past Mayo

Adrian Freeman Park, Tooreen, was the venue for the Laois hurlers on Sunday as they opened their NHL Division 2 campaign with a comfortable win over hosts Mayo.

The first half was as one-sided as you’ll get with Laois leading 5-15 to 0-1 at the break, but the second half performance left Laois boss Tommy Fitzgerald a little disappointed.

Speaking after the game in Mayo, he said, “We would be disappointed with the second half, there’s no point saying any different.

“Maybe it’s human nature to a certain extent when you’re up by 30 odd points by half time, but our efficiency was really poor, I thought, we had a lot of wides and that sucks the energy out of a team as well.

“The second half was a long 35 minutes, but the intent at the start in the first half was quite good, the energy and the attitude, then you’re hoping the hurling will get better as we go through the weeks and months.”

The half-time scoreline was in no small part down to the full forward line of Cillian Dunne, James Keyes and Mossy Keyes, who combined for 5-7 in that period, though Fitzgerald was also quick to praise the ball coming into them.

“Delighted for him after his first start in a League game, he’s played in the Walsh Cup, but the league is a bit different,” said Fitzgerald about Dunne on his NHL debut. “He’s come in and he deserved that start. He trained so well, and he brings massive energy to every training session and applies himself so well.

“I’m not surprised, he’s a right good hurler and I was delighted to see James finishing his chances as well. But look, there was plenty of ball going in there, the opposition will get tougher as we go on and we know that, we’re well aware of that. It’s job done, it’s two points and it’s on to the next one.”

Laois came into the game as massive favourites and were expected to win well, not a common hurdle for a Laois manager to face and it’s one that Fitzgerald handled very well.

“You’re just focusing on what we’re trying to get after and make it about us,” he said on their preparations. “There’s big competition for places on the panel and lads know that as well so if they don’t perform, there’s someone else behind them to take the jersey so you hope they’ll self-motivate in that regard to go out and perform to make sure they hold onto the jersey.

“We’re trying to get the most out of our own performance and build week on week, we’re well aware there’s bigger challenges ahead and better teams coming down the tracks. We find ourselves in this position and we have to crawl our way back out of it.”

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The game moved to Tooreen during the week from the Mayo county ground of MacHale Park in Castlebar, and Fitzgerald was full of praise for the venue.

“We were assured the pitch was in good condition and that it’s a nice facility and it absolutely is. There aren’t many clubgrounds that have a pitch in this condition on January 25th, and the facilities inside are top-class, so there aren’t any complaints in that regard. It’s a fine field, a good sod, and they’ve been very welcoming here. We’re back into O’Moore Park next Sunday and it’s all about getting two points and one step closer to promotion,” he concluded.