Rampant Laois run Sligo ragged

LGFA Intermediate Championship

Round 1

Laois 5-08 Sligo 1-04

Goals win games and a quickfire salvo of three goals in the opening half ensured Laois were never in danger against the Yeat’s County women.

Right from the off Laois bamboozled a very hesitant Sligo rearguard.  Young Championship debutant Orla Hennessy pointed after less than thirty seconds.  The O’Moore ladies soon doubled their advantage when Mo Nerney tacked over her free after Emma Lawlor was fouled.

Sligo cut the deficit in half with a Rachel O’Brien free but that barely dented a rampant Laois side. With Ellen Healy winning a lot of breaking ball Laois were constantly attacking. Anna Healy was dominant around the middle and supplied her side with any amount of possession.  Another Mo Nerney point from a free saw the scoreboard begin to reflect Laois’ dominance.  Nerney then turned provider as she fed Sarah Ann Fitzgerald and the tall Dual star made no mistake to raise the first green flag of the day.

Sligo were soon reeling from the concession of a second goal from Laura Nerney then a third through Emma Lawlor as Laois began to pummel a Sligo side that coughed up way too much possession at the back. When Laura Nerney was fouled namesake Mo slotted over the resulting free to copper-fasten Laois’ dominance. Indeed Andrea Moran had a chance of getting through on goal soon after. Spilling the ball in atrocious conditions the Ballyroan player did well to feed debutant Orla Hennessy and the Timahoe youngster made no mistake when tapping over the bar. Any sporadic Sligo raids forward as half time loomed were inevitably snuffed out by the effervescent Laura Nerney.

Trailing by 3-05 to 1-02 at the break the Sligo women could have confidently predicted a fightback in the second period, backed by a strong wind.  However Laois refused to take their foot off the gas and were soon celebrating a fourth goal. Hennessy cleverly fed Andrea Moran and the Ballyroan woman made no mistake from close range. Leah Tarpey had been introduced at the break for All-Ireland winner Mags McEvoy and the young Sarsfields’ dynamo soon had tacked on a brace of points.

A series of Sligo raids forward were then cut out by the ever-vigilant Jenny McEvoy. Goal scorer Moran was then replaced by another Sarsfields’ player Claire Conlon. Soon after it was Conlon’s quickly-taken free that allowed fellow sub Rachel Fitzgerald in on goal and the Ballyroan player fired home her side’s fifth goal after sidestepping the Sligo keeper.

For a rampaging Laois side Jenny McEvoy was a rock in the heart of defence. Laura Nerney also helped out manfully at the back while always showing for her teammates when going forward. Debutant Orla Hennessy showed she was well able for championship fare and took her scores well. Sarah Ann Fitzgerald’s decision to switch over from camogie was vindicated while Mo Nerney was imperious throughout. Introduced subs Leah Tarpey and Rachel Fitzgerald also shone as did the Healys; Anna and Ellen, who covered every blade of grass around the middle third.

Laois: Eimear Barry; Clodagh Dunne, Jenny McEvoy, Amy Potts; Amy Potts, Rachel Williams, Laura Nerney; Jane Moore, Ellen Healy, Mags McEvoy, Anna Healy, Mo Nerney, Orla Hennessy, Emma Lawlor, Andrea Moran, Sarah Ann Fitzgerald Subs Used; Leah Tarpey, Rachel Fitzgerald,  Clare Conlon, Sarah Larkin, Kate Jacob Subs Not Used: Nadine Dempsey, Sinead O’ Rourke, Emily Mulhall,  Kate Whelan, Leah Loughman, Roisin Larkin, Erone Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Reddin, Rebecca Balfe,

Laois Scorers: Orla Hennessy 0-02, Mo Nerney 0-03 (all frees) , Sarah Ann Fitzgerald 1-00, Laura Nerney 1-00, Emma Lawlor 1-01, Andrea Moran 1-00, Leah Tarpey 0-02,