Waterford 3-21 Laois 0-12
A commanding second-half display at Fraher Field saw Waterford record an 18-point win over Laois on Saturday, building on their opening round draw in Limerick.
Despite an encouraging first-half showing, Laois were put to the sword after the interval, with Deise talisman Pauric Mahony turning on the style yet again, registering an impressive 1-14, with 1-5 of that coming from play.
A rampant Waterford side ran up 3-10 in the second half, in contrast to Laois’ 0-4 with the visitors’ challenge fading after the dismissal of Charles Dwyer for a second yellow card in the 49th minute.
Those three goals – scored through Shane Bennett, Mahony and Thomas Connors – and the creation of several other goalscoring opportunities will have pleased Waterford boss Derek McGrath, whose side have already struck 45 scores in just two NHL outings.
At the break, Waterford led by 0-11 to 0-8, with Mahony rifling over 0-7.
However, an end-to-end affair saw the sides level on seven occasions during a tactics-heavy opening half with Laois free-taker Zane Keenan tagging on five of his side’s scores.
Waterford finished the half strongly, with a brace of Mahony points sending them three clear at the break.
After the interval Waterford produced a more attack-orientated approach which Laois really had no answer to.
WATERFORD: S O'Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T Bourke, A Gleeson (0-2), P Mahony; J Barron, T Devine; K Moran, P Mahony (1-14, 0-9 frees); T Connors 64, 1-0), S Bennett (1-1); B O'Halloran (0-1), M Walsh (0-1), M Kearney. Subs: J Dillon for Kearney (half-time), S O'Sullivan (0-1) for Devine (45 mins), P Prendergast for Fives (50 mins), D Breathnach (0-1) for Bennett (59 mins), T Connors (0-1) for Mahony (64 mins)
LAOIS: E Rowland; J A Delaney, C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, D Palmer; J Campion, P Purcell (0-1); W Hyland (0-1), T Fitzgerald, C Dwyer; S Maher, Z Keenan (0-9, frees), R King (0-1). Subs: C Stapleton for Maher (26 mins), PJ Scully for Campion (half-time), B Conroy for King (half-time), C Dunne for Stapleton (52 mins), J Purcell for Fitzgerald (64 mins).
Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)
