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Action from Kerry v Laois.
Mike O’Halloran on Kerry defeat yesterday against Laois at Austin Stack Park in the Joe McDonagh Cup…
Kerry 0-18
Laois 1-25
A most disappointing day for Kerry hurling.
Laois were late getting to Tralee but they lost no time in getting on to the scoreboard with Liam O’Connell splitting the posts after 20 seconds to put Laois ahead, a lead they never relinquished.
Laois led 1-10 to 0-07 at half-time, with Kerry struggling in every line and finding it very difficult to deal with the power and skill of the Laois men.
The ability of the Laois players to find their men with precise passes both to hand and hurley was in total contrast to the Kerry players who struggled to transfer defence into attack.
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Up front Maurice O’Connor and Dan Goggin were unable to get into the game due to being marshalled by the Laois defenders and the poor quality of the ball they were presented with.
In the first half Kerry had points from MacKessey, Colin Walsh, Michael Leane Ronan Walsh and Killian Hayes from play with Maurice O’Connor scoring two points from placed balls.
Action from Kerry v Laois.
Kerry hoped to get the first score of the second period but it was Laois through Aaron Dunphy who did that.
Kerry struggled again the second half and were unable to hold on to the coat tails of a rampant Laois. Every time Kerry got a score, Laois replied immediately. Kerry only once were able to put two scores back to back without a Laois reply.
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Maurice O’Connor scored one point from a free, Brandon Barrett also had one, Ronan Walsh put two on the board, Colin Walsh scored three, with Fionan MacKessey adding four.
Kerry received a lesson from Laois yesterday, a lesson that my stand them in good stead for their game against Offaly in two weeks time.
One of those lessons is that you must be first to the ball another, a lesson that they will need to be more direct. The game against Offaly is make or break, a loss and the Joe McDonagh Cup will have to wait for another year. Final score Kerry 0-18 Laois 1-25.
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