Gaelic Games

Cork’s defence in dominant mood as they ease to victory over Laois

Pat Horgan leads the scoring for Rebels in a lacklustre encounter

Laois’s Charlie Dwyer battles with Paul Haughney of Cork during the NHL Division 1B clash at O’Moore Park. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Mon Feb 24 2014 - 01:00

Cork 0-14 Laois 0-7
Cork as expected collected their first brace of National League points when they visited O'Moore Park on Saturday evening.

Laois were surprise winners over Offaly in round one but Cork dropped a point to Limerick in their opening tie.

Cork boss Jimmy Barry Murphy made sweeping changes for Saturday but it is unlikely he enjoyed the trip home on too much after his side struggled for much of this game against a team that won Division 2A last year.

While the visitors raced into a three-point lead inside four minutes they were well contained by a solid Laois defence right through out the game.

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Stephen Maher accounted for all of the Laois points in the opening half and all came from frees.

Christy Joyce posted the opening point for Cork and a brace by Alan Cadogan put them 0-4 to 0-1 in front after eight minutes.

Stephen Maher kept Laois in touch but when they were awarded a penalty goalkeeper Eoin Reilly blasted low but was denied by his opposite number.

Pat Horgan accounted for five Cork points in the opening half and they led 0-11 to 0-3 at the interval.

Laois had wind assistance on the change over but although their forwards improved their opening score from play did not arrive until the 52nd minute.

That put six points between the sides but that was as close as it got and Cork held on to claim their first victory but Séamus Plunkett will be happy with his side's performance.
CORK: D McCarthy; S O'Neill, S McDonnell, C Spillane; L McLoughlin, C Joyce (0-1), W Egan (0-1); M Ellis, P Haughey; S Harnedy (0-2), J Coughlan, MO'Sullivan; A Cadogan (0-3), P Cronin, P Horgan (0-6, five frees). Subs: D Kearney for M O'Sullivan (h/t), S Moylan (0-1) for P Cronin (h/t), R O'Shea for S Harnedy (51 mins), M Cahalane for P Horgan (59 mins).
LAOIS: E Reilly; J A Delaney, B Campion, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, C Dunne; P Whelan, C Collier; J Purcell, D Palmer, S Maher (0-6, six frees); N Foyle, C Dwyer, T Fitzgerald (0-1). Subs: W Hyland for J Purcell (33 mins), R King for N Foyle (h/t), J Campion for C Dwyer (42 mins), W Dunphy for P Whelan (50 mins), P J Scully for W Dunphy (inj 68 mins),
Referee: C Browne Galway

Limerick