NHL 2: Laois cruise past Lilywhites
Laois 1-15
Kildare 0-8
Laois recorded the first win of their National Hurling League campaign in Division Two last night when they saw off a 14-man Kildare side at O'Moore Park with ten points to spare.
Niall Rigney's side were given a major boost just before half-time when Tommy Fitzgerald was set-up by Willie Hyland for the game's only goal before Kildare full-back was issued a red card for a dangerous tackle on Eoin Costello.
Kildare had stayed in touch at the break with the scores at 1-6 to 0-7, with five of the Lilywhites' tally coming from the reliable free-taking of midfielder Billy White.
However, after the restart the hosts put their foot on the throttle and through the scores of Eoin Costello, Neil Foley and Hyland they recorded a comfortable victory in the end.
Laois - E O'Reilly; J Delaney, D Maher, C Dunne; B Stapleton, B Campion (0-1), M McEvoy; E Jackman, B Dunne; S Dollard, C Healy, W Hyland (0-6); E Costelloe (0-4), T Fitzgerald (1-1), J Purcell. Subs - N Foyle (0-2) for J Purcell, J Dunne for E Jackman, O Holohan for B Dunne.
Kildare - P Dermody; D Byrne, D Ryan, P Reidy; B White (0-5), R Hoban (0-1), N O'Muineachain; M Divilly, P Buggy; T Murphy (0-1), D Kennedy, D Harney (0-1); P Moloney, P Keegan, M Fitzgerald. Subs - J Houlihan for Murphy, B Ahern for O'Muineachain, E O'Neill for White.
Ref - D O'Driscoll (Limerick)
