Pauric Mahony turns on the style as Waterford ease past Laois

Waterford 3-21 Laois 0-12

Waterford took top spot in Division 1B of the National Hurling League thanks to a commanding second half display at a chilly Fraher Field, building positively on their valuable opening round draw in Limerick.

Despite an encouraging first half display, Laois were put to the sword after the interval, with talisman Pauric Mahony turning on the style, registering 1-14, with 1-5 of those coming from play.

A rampant Waterford side ran up 3-10 in the second half, in stark contrast to Laois’s 0-4; with the visitors’ challenge fading after the dismissal of Charles Dwyer for a second yellow card in the 49th minute.

At the break, Waterford led by 0-11 to 0-8, with Mahony rifling over 0-7; with the Ballygunner man's free striking arguably at a career best. An end-to-end affair saw the sides level on seven occasions during a tactics-heavy opening 35 minutes, with Laois free-taker Zane Keenan tagging on five of his side's scores.

A four-point lead for Waterford became seven after 52 minutes when Shane Bennett rifled the ball into Enda Rowland's top left hand corner, following a sweeping cross-field move involving the majestic Mahony and substitute Jake Dillon. Mahony added Waterford's second goal in the 59th minute, after an unselfish offload by Michael Walsh, while substitute Thomas Connors smashed in the third with his first touch, just seconds after his introduction.

Waterford: S O'Keeffe; S Fives (P Prendergast, 50), B Coughlan, N Connors; T Bourke, A Gleeson, (0-2) Philip Mahony; J Barron, T Devine (S O'Sullivan, 45, 0-1); K Moran, Pauric Mahony (1-14, 0-9f, T Connors 64, 1-0), S Bennett (1-1; D Breathnach, 59, 0-1); B O'Halloran (0-1), M Walsh (0-1), M Kearney (J Dillon, HT).

Laois: E Rowland; J Delaney, C Healty, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, D Palmer; J Campion (PJ Scully, HT), P Purcell (0-1); W Hyland (0-1), T Fitzgerald (J Purcell, 64), C Dwyer; S Maher (C Stapleton, 26; C Dunne 52), Z Keenan (0-9f), R King (0-1; B Conroy, HT).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)