Step up in class un-Laoised for Mayo

Laois 6-23 

Mayo 0-12 

It was a baptism of fire for Mayo in Division 2 at Adrian Freeman Park in Tooreen on Sunday afternoon.

Ray Larkin’s understrength side found Laois just too big a step up in class. Minus the bulk of the Tooreen contingent following their All-Ireland club hurling exploits, Mayo were missing eight of the starting team from last year’s Nickey Rackard Cup final.

To add to the perfect storm, they faced one of the top teams in the division in a Laois side who will compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup in this year’s championship, fully two tiers above Mayo.

In the end, Mayo dug out a decent second half performance which saw Laois win that half by just one point but as you can guess, the damage was done in the first half.

Laois took a 5-14 to 0-1 lead in at the interval and it was a blessing Mayo scored at all.

It was only with the very last shot of the half that Mayo avoided the ignominy of a scoreless half, Ryan Duffy converting a free after lively sub’ Fionn Delaney was fouled.

All over the field, Laois were on top and they had real quality forwards in the likes of Cillian Dunne, James Keyes, Jack Kelly and David Dooley.

Keyes struck for a first half hat-trick while Dunne struck the other two goals.

Mayo were taking in water all over the field so the second half display will be a source of comfort to Ray Larkin and his selectors.

Ryan Duffy was central to it with ten points in total, many of the frees self-earned and is a quality forward. Cormac Phillips, after a disappointing first half, came into his own with two points from play, one of which, a catch, turn and point from a Mayo puck-out, was one of the scores of the day.

Indeed, Mayo were winning the second half for most of the half but two injury time Laois points put pay to that pyrrhic victory too.

The Tooreen contingent return to training before Mayo’s next game, against London, next weekend in Ruislip.

See Tuesday’s Western People for full coverage.