UCD 1-14 Laois 3-6

UCD will play the champions Kildare in next week’s O’Byrne cup semi-final after they scored a convincing win over Laois at Portarlington yesterday.

Played in difficult conditions the visitors took an early lead when Billy Sheehan pulled down a forward in full flight and Westmeath man John Heslin gave the Laois goal keeper no chance.

The students added points by Dublin star Paul Mannion and Paul Kingston and by the time Laois opened their account the students were in a commanding position. David Conway gave Laois hope with a well struck goal and points by Conor Meredith and Adam Ryan but at the break UCD led 1-5 to 1-2.

On the change over UCD added a string of points by Heslin, Mannion and Mark Hughes and Laois made a few changes. Eoin Lowry struck for a goal and points by Conor Meredith and Gary Walsh who gave a great display and narrowed the gap with a well taken goal but time ran out and UCD will play again next week against Kildare.
UCD: Eoghan Keogh; Oran Fitzpatrick, David Byrne, Paddy Reilly (0-2); Ciaran Lenihan (0-1), Paraic O'Harnan, Robert McDaid; Robert Tierney, John Heslin (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-1f); Brian Fenton (0-1), Paul Mannion (0-3), Con Downey; Paul Kingston (0-1f), Mark Hughes (0-1), Ryan Basquel. Subs: S Cadden for Basquel (half-time), S McEntee for Lenehan (49 mins), R Bergin for Downey (56 mins), J McCaffrey (59 mins), J Toher for Kingston (67 mins).
LAOIS: D Maher; D Booth, M Timmons, J Mahon; S Attride, P Begley, Adam Ryan (0-1); K Lillis, J O'Loughlin; N Donoher, D Kingston, B Sheehan; M Scully, Conor Meredith (0-2), D Conway. Subs: Damien O'Connor (1-0) for Donoher (inj, 4 mins), E O'Carroll for Scully (24 mins), Eoin Lowry (1-0) for O'Connor (half-time), P O'Leary for Lillis (47 mins), Gary Walsh (1-3, 0-1 45) for Conway (47m mins).
Referee: Damien Maher (Westmeath)