Galway 3-12

Laois 1-10

Galway turned on the style at O'Moore Park to inflict a heavy defeat on Laois.

The newly-crowned Connacht FBD League champions had the two league points in the bag by half-time when they led by 2-6 to 0-1. Adrian Varley and Damien Comer raised green flags in the sixth and 20th minutes, and Comer grabbed a second for the second week running in the 45th minute after substitute Daniel O'Reilly's goal had given the hosts a glimmer of hope.

Donie Kingston had a third-minute penalty saved by Thomas Dolan and that miss came back to haunt Laois three minutes later when Varley made it 1-1 to 0-0. Kingston eventually opened the O'Moore County's account from a 13th minute free, but the Tribesmen were much fitter and faster and had eased into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead before Comer's low shot beat Graham Brody for their second goal.

Captain Gary O'Donnell tagged on a point to give the visitors an 11-point advantage at the interval, which was extended to 14 thanks to further scores from O'Donnell, Eamon Brannigan and Paul Conroy before O'Reilly's goal made it 1-1 to 2-9.

Laois cut the gap to nine through points from Kingston (free) and substitute Gary Walsh, but it was all over bar the shouting when Comer fisted home his second goal. The only downside to Galway's facile win was a black card for Varley eight minutes from time.

Galway - T Dolan; D Wynne (0-1), D Kyne, E Kerin; L Silke, G O'Donnell (0-2), J Heaney (0-1); P Conroy (0-2), F O Curraoin; T Flynn, E Hoare (0-2, 1f), E Tierney; D Comer (2-2), A Varley (1-1), E Brannigan (0-1). Subs: S Walsh for E Brannigan, P Cooke for E Hoare, P Mannion for A Varley (BC), S Denvir for J Heaney, A Kyne for E Kerin.

Laois - G Brody; R Kehoe, M Timmons, D Seale; D Strong (0-1), P Cotter, G Dillon; K Meaney, J O'Loughlin; J Farrell, D Kingston (0-3, 2f), N Murphy; P Cahillane (0-3), E O'Carroll (0-1), A Farrell. Subs: K Lillis for D Seale, P Kingston (0-1) for N Murphy, G Walsh (0-1) for N Farrell, D O'Reilly (1-0) for J O'Loughlin, T Collins for J Farrell, D O'Connor for G Dillon.

Referee - C Branagan.

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