GAA: Clare in 2-18 to 0-14 win over Laois
By William Keane
Last Updated: 01/07/17 6:08pm
Just a point separated these sides last year when Clare prevailed in Ennis in the All-Ireland qualifiers, but there was no doubt about the outcome in Portlaoise this time round as the Banner county eased to a facile victory by 2-18 to 0-14.
It was a sorry championship exit for Laois in their own backyard at O'Moore Park but they had no answer to a Clare side who showed that the progress made in recent years is being built upon.
They will fancy their chances of another extended run in the qualifiers after a fine showing.
An impressive opening half by Clare saw them deservedly lead by 0-11 to 0-8 at the interval, with Eoin Cleary landing five points from play for the Banner men.
Colm Collins knew his men needed a good start if they were to lay down a marker and early points from Keelan Sexton and Cleary provided that.
Jamie Malone could have added to that bright start but his goal was ruled out for over-carrying and Laois responded well with efforts from Donie Kingston and Stephen Attride.
However, it was Clare who continued to set the pace and they went into the second quarter leading by 0-5 to 0-3 before Kingston and David Conway gave Laois hope with good points.
Malone was denied another goal chance when Laois goalkeeper Graham Brody saved well, but Cleary pointed the resultant 45 to keep Clare ahead.
Gary Walsh came close to finding the net for Laois but his effort rebounded off the woodwork before being scrambled clear by the Clare defence.
Kingston cut the gap to the minimum with a point approaching the interval but there was a let-off for Laois when Attride escaped with a yellow rather than a black card for a high tackle.
Gary Brennan pointed for Clare and two more efforts from Cleary gave them a 0-11 to 0-8 cushion at the end of an entertaining opening half.
There was a big blow for Laois seven minutes after the restart when midfielder John O'Loughlin was sent off when he picked up a second yellow card.
Kingston hit back with a free for Laois to reduce the margin to two but that effort was cancelled by another Cleary point before Cathal O'Connor went forward to shoot his second of the match.
Attride once more provided a glimmer of hope for Laois with his third point from play, but then Clare struck a telling blow with a goal.
Cleary did most of the hard work but it was Malone who provided the finishing touch to make it 1-13 to 0-10 after 48 minutes.
Laois needed to get the next score to keep their season alive but Clare were unforgiving and Cleary tacked on another brace and Pearse Lillis also went forward to twice hit the target to extend the lead to 1-17 to 0-10 after 54 minutes.
Laois were unable to muster a response and a large chunk of their supporters were already on their way out of O'Moore Park by the time Sexton rifled home Clare's second goal with 10 minutes still left on the clock, after Malone had set him up, with the Bannermen using seven substitutes due to a couple of blood injuries.
Laois: G Brody; D Strong, M Timmons, T Collins; E Buggie, P McMahon, C Begley (0-1); B Quigley, J O'Loughlin; A Farrell, D Conway (0-1), D O'Connor; S Attride (0-3), D Kingston (0-8, 0-7f), G Walsh (0-1f).
Subs: N Donoher for O'Connor (36), J Kelly for Buggie (50), P Kingston for Conway (51), R Munnelly for Walsh (51), J Finn for Quigley (55), B Daly for Attride (60).
Clare: Joe Hayes; G Kelly, K Harnett, D Ryan; P Lillis (0-2), M McMahon, C Russell; G Brennan (0-2), C O'Connor (0-2); C O'Dea, S Collins, J Malone (1-1); K Sexton (1-2, 0-1f), E Cleary (0-9, 0-3f, 0-3 '45), D Tubridy.
Subs: John Hayes for Russell (57), G O'Broin for Tubridy (57), S Malone for Sexton (62), D Nagle for O'Dea (62), E Collins for Harnett (64), D Bohannon for Lillis (69), K Malone for S Collins (69).
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).
