The unerring Pauric Mahony helped himself to 1-14 as Waterford inflicted a merciless 3-21 to 0-12 defeat on 14-man Laois at Dungarvan.

Both sides went into this match searching for a first win of the campaign and, for long periods during the first half, there was little to separate them. They were level seven times in the opening half but late points from Austin Gleeson and Mahony (free) ensured that Derek McGrath's men led by three at the short whistle, 0-11 to 0-8.

Upon the restart, Seamus Plunkett's charges struck first with a Zane Keenan free but the hosts now took complete control and hit 2-8 without reply before Laois' top scorer Keenan notched his side's second score of the half from another free eight minutes from time.

In the meantime, Waterford had inflicted untold damage, while O'Moore County talisman Cha Dwyer was sent off for a second yellow card 20 minutes from the end.

Two Mahony points made it 0-14 to 0-9 after 46 minutes and Mahony struck four points without reply before Shane Bennett netted the first goal of the night in the 51st minute and followed up with a point a minute later.

1-14 (0-9f) for Pauric Mahony. ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Mahony collected a pass from Michael Walsh to fire the second major on 58 minutes and contributed three more points either side of that three-pointer, while substitute Thomas Connors grabbed the third goal with his first involvement seven minutes from the end.

The win sees Waterford move to the top of the table overnight, with three points from a possible four and a healthy scoring difference, while the midlanders are propping up the table after two defeats.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T Bourke, A Gleeson (0-2), Philip Mahony; J Barron, Pauric Mahony (1-14, 0-9f); K Moran, M Walsh (0-1), B O'Halloran (0-1); Shane Bennett (1-1), T Devine, M Kearney. Subs: J Dillon for M Kearney, S O'Sullivan for T Devine, P Prendergast for S Fives, D Breathnach (0-2) for Stephen Bennett, T Connors (1-0) for Pauric Mahony.

Laois - E Rowland; J A Delaney, C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, D Palmer; Z Keenan (0-9f), P Purcell (0-1); W Hyland (0-1), J Campion, C Dwyer; S Maher, T Fitzgerald, R King (0-1). Subs: C Stapleton for S Maher, B Conroy for R King, PJ Scully for J Campion, C Dunne for B Stapleton, J Purcell for T Fitzgerald.

Referee - D Kirwan.

Tweet

Most Read Stories