Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final

Laois 1-14 Limerick 0-14

By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds

Laois progressed to the Tailteann Cup semi-finals, with a three-point victory over hosts Limerick. Billy Sheehan’s side struck a second half goal from Colm Murphy to help over-turn a five point deficit and win away from home for the second week on the bounce.

This clash was played in a mix of conditions. A high-paced opening half, played in the warm, dry Limerick venue, was in contrast to the monsoon like rain witnessed in the tense second half. Indeed, there was thunder and lightning on Shannonside as these well-matched sides looked to book a Croke Park date.

After a fortnight off, Limerick started brightly, with the opening three scores. These arrived from Cathal Downes’ long-range effort, a Barry Coleman score and a James Naughton mark.

Laois did reply quickly and superbly, they kicked the next four points with Mark Barry and Patrick O’Sullivan on the scoresheet. They would hold a slender lead for much of the half, but weren’t able to shake a pacy Limerick, who were group winners after winning their opening two clashes last month.

Laois tagged on a few scores to move 0-9 to 0-6 ahead, as Murphy’s mark and a score from James Finn helped them take advantage of some good kick passing. But Limerick finished the half strongly. Despite being denied by Killian Roche for a couple of goals, there was scores from Hugh Bourke and a trio of James Naughton frees to push the Shannonsiders ahead by the minimum at the interval.

With it 0-10 to 0-9, Mark Fitzgerald would have been content, he would have been ecstatic when his side opened with the first four efforts of the half. These put them 0-14 to 0-9 ahead as Brian Donovan, Bourke and McSweeney were all accurate. This, by the 47th minute, would be the last Limerick score.

Laois came back, as points from Barry (free) were quickly added to by Evan O’Carroll and another from Brian Daly. Suddenly, there was energy in the Laois legs and they were to within a point inside the final five minutes.

A stray pass from a Limerick defender was intercepted by Murphy, who from a tight angle, rounded Donal O’Sullivan before finding the net.

It appeared Limerick needed a goal, particularly when they trailed by three after a superb Killian Roche ‘45’. The hosts did search for their own green flag but the midlanders' dealt with the dropping ball into the square before the final whistle was sounded.**

Scorers for Laois: Mark Barry 0-4 (1f), Colm Murphy 1-1 (1m) Evan O’Carroll 0-3 (1f, 1m) Patrick O’Sullivan 0-2; Kieran Lillis 0-1, James Finn 0-1, Killian Roche (45) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick:, James Naughton 0-5 (4fs, 1m), Hugh Bourke 0-4 (1m) Cian Sheehan 0-2, Cathal Downes, Barry Coleman Brian Donovan 0-1 each.

Laois: Killian Roche; Seán Greene, Alex Mohan, Robert Pigott; Pádraig Kirwan, Mark Timmons, Patrick O’Sullivan; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; Colm Murphy, Paul Kingston, James Finn; Mark Barry, Evan O’Carroll, Eoin Lowry.

Subs: Niall Corbet for Kingston (45), Kevin Swayne for Finn (47), Seán O’Flynn for Kirwan (55), Brian Daly for Lowry (61), Damien O’Connor for O’Carroll (70+1).

Limerick: Donal O’Sullivan; Jim Liston, Seán O’Dea, Mike Donovan; Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Paul Maher; Cathal Downes, Cillian Fahy; Cian Sheehan, Brian Donovan, Colm McSweeney; James Naughton, Hugh Bourke, Darragh Murray.

Subs: David Connolly for Liston (temp – 33 - HT), Robbie Bourke for Murray (HT), Tony McCarthy for Maher (46), Adrian Enright for Downes (59), Davy Lyons for Liston (70), Tommy Griffin for McSweeney (70+5).

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).