Comfortable win for Laois in their first match in the Gerry Reilly FT
Laois 3-14 Louth 1-13.
With the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, Laois made a winning start to see off Louth in this round 1 game of the Gerry Reilly U-16 FT played in the Gilson Park, Oldcastle on Saturday afternoon.
The conditions were poor from the go with misty rain and a strong breeze making it difficult for both sets of players. However with the wind at their backs blowing from the town end it was Laois who took an early lead through their corner forward Damien Larkin.
From the kick out Laois claimed possession and quick ball to Trevor Swayne saw Laois’ second point sail over. The handling errors from both teams was evident to see, but Laois found their feet and added on another on 6 minutes from the other corner forward Ross Bolger who was excellent on the day.
5 minutes had passed before Louth had registered their first shot due to the pressure applied by the Laois defence, but they did take their first score after 6 minutes which came from the right boot of the corner forward Johnathan Commons. Both teams then traded scores but on the 11th minute the first goal of the day came when a long ball was launched in on the Louth square and the breaking ball found its way to Laois’s Damien Larkin, who coolly placed the ball beyond the Louth goal keeper to make it 1-6 to 2 points after 12 minutes.
Laois kept the score board ticking over as the breeze aided some of their long range shooting from centre half forward Seamus Farrelly, Larkin and Bolger who all blossomed on the day. Louth found it very difficult to get score and only managed 3 points after 15 minutes of play. Laois’ second goal of the day came just before half time from another long ball into the unmarked no.10 Enda McWey who rounded the closest defender to him and placed the ball in the right hand corner of the net to extend Laois’s lead to 2-12 to 4 points at half time.
Laois scored the first point of the second half from the throw in, but after that Louth were much more prominent in the second half as the held Laois scoreless for 14 minutes and during that period they scored 1-5 including a much needed goal which was a fantastic team move and was finished to the net by no.10 Michael Begley.
Louth’s centre half forward Daire Nally was key to keeping Louth in touch as he pointed a number of frees to claw the game back to 2-14 to 1-10 after 45 minutes.
However the game was all but sealed as Man of the Match from Laois Seamus Farrelly worked his way past a number of stiff tackles along the end line to squeeze the ball home at the near post past Louth ‘keeper, Joe Gordon. Louth kicked the final two scores, but at the final whistle it was Laois who ran out comfortable winners.
Respa ‘Man of the match’ Seamus Farrelly was presented with his prize by Oldcastle GFC clubman, Dermot Monaghan.
Laois: Tom Wright, Sean O’Neill, Ned Ryan, Cathal Bennett, Adam Dunne, Ciaran Byrne (0-1), Seth Mooney, Sean Corcoran, Josh Lacey, Enda McWey (1-0), Seamus Farrelly (1-3), Trevor Swayne (0-4) , ross Bolger (0-4), Mark O’Connell, Damien Larkin (1-2).
Subs. Micky Bennett for Ciaran Byrne 22 mins, Brian Fingleton for Josh Lacey 36 mins, Matt Kelly for Sean O’Neill, Ben Conroy for Ross Bolger 43 mins, Eoin Fitzpatrick for Trevor Swayne 47 mins, Brian Dunne for Damien Larkin 53 mins,
Louth: Joe Gordon, Craig Callan, Nathan Buckley, Jay Crawley, FinbarrA Lynch, Paul McEvoy, Bobby butterly, Gerard white, James McGillick, Michael Begley (1-1), Daire Nally (0-8, 0-7f), Conor Faulkner, Cathal Fleming, Ryan Walsh, Johnathan commons (0-3).
Subs. James Harper for Bobby Butterly 16 mins, Jamie Winters for Jay Crawley 20 mins, Andrew Lennon for Craig Callan 22mins, Adam Harper (0-1) for Conor Faulkner 48 mins.
Ref: Michael Lee (Cavan)