Champions signal intent
February 25, 2008
It was a case of déjà vu at O'Moore Park as, for the second year in-a-row, holders Laois dumped Louth of the Cadbury's Leinster under 21 football championship with an accomplished showing.
Laois 2-13
Louth 0-7
Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists made a dream start when two early points were followed by a Stephen O'Leary goal. Louth replied with two points of their own before they were dealt another blow when Kevin Smith rifled home a second Laois goal to give them a 2-4 to 0-2 lead midway through the half.
Louth looked down and out but, to their credit, responded with points from Ger Hoey (two), Derek Maguire and Conor Rafferty to trail by 0-6 to 2-4 at half-time.
Laois looked to have a real fight on their hands when Louth reduced the deficit to three points moments after the restart but, remarkably, the visitors were not to score again as Laois assumed complete control.
Donie Kingston, Scott Conroy, Zach Tuohy and Stephen O'Leary were all on the mark as the O'Moore County set up a quarter-final meeting with Wicklow at the same venue in a fortnight's time.
Laois - D Maher; J Murphy, M Delaney, B Meredith; R Ryan, J O'Loughlin, K Smith 1-0; C Og Greene 0-1, G Reddin; C Meredith, S O'Leary 1-2, Z Tuohy 0-1; S Conroy 0-5, D Kingston 0-2, D Carroll 0-2. Subs - J Dempsey for D Kingston, K Delaney for S Conroy, D Flaherty for R Ryan, S Shortall for K Smith. J Moore for C Meredith.
Louth - B Nash; A O'Brien, P Osborne, R Brennan; D Byrne, P Rath, G Hoey 0-2; K White, B Donnely 0-2; A Kirk, P Smith, S Brennan; D Maguire 0-1, C Rafferty 0-2, D Mulligan; Subs - D Stanfield for A Kirk, C Matthews, for S Brennan, C Owen for R Brennan, B Flanagan for D Mulligan, P Halligan for P Smith.
Ref - E Craul (Wicklow)
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