National Football League Division One/Laois 1-17 Galway 2-13: Laois displayed tremendous character to carve out victory at Pearse Stadium yesterday. Mick O'Dwyer's men recovered from a dreadful start which saw them slip 1-5 to 0-1 behind after 15 minutes, despite playing with a strong wind at their backs.
And then when they were hit in the dying moments by an equalising goal from Micheál Meehan, Laois again rallied and they worked the ball forward for Shane Cooke to land the winning point from 50 yards. But while Cooke was an instant hero, the real star of this Laois victory was teenage corner forward Donie Brennan, who tormented the Galway defence.
He has had a weekend of mixed emotions. On Saturday, suspension ruled him out of Knockbeg College's historic Leinster colleges success over St Mel's of Longford, when the school ended a 50-year wait to capture the title. But Brennan refused to be ruffled and he went on to produce a performance that could see him play a big part in O'Dwyer's plans.
Brennan kicked six points from play, three in either half, and was willing to lead when Laois were most in need of inspiration. Galway have been one of the most inconsistent sides in the league this season, and yesterday they were no different.
Peter Ford's men got a great start with Padraic Joyce slipping the ball through to Micheál Meehan for a goal. Derek Savage and Joyce added points before Meehan shot three points to push Galway 1-5 to 0-1 in front after 15 minutes.
Brennan landed two points either side of an effort from Cooke and Laois finished the half strongly with Tom Kelly going forward for a fine point before Ross Munnelly landed two from play and an excellent lineball. That score was the only one not to come from play during a thrilling opening half, as Galway led by 1-8 to 0-10 at the break.
Munnelly pointed a free within 30 seconds of the restart before Brennan collected a good ball from Cooke and edged Laois in front after 38 minutes. Micheál Meehan levelled with a point but not enough ball found its way into the Galway full-forward line.
Joyce, Paul Clancy and Meehan again found the range for Galway to lead by 1-12 to 0-13 but, remarkably, they were to manage just two further scores in the remaining 20 minutes.
Munnelly reduced the margin to a point with another free before Laois were awarded a penalty when substitute Paul Lawlor was fouled. Goalkeeper and captain Fergal Byron dispatched the penalty into the top left corner of the net.
That score inspired Laois and they went into the final minutes leading by a goal, only for Meehan to level the game in injury-time but there was still time for Cooke to win it for Laois.
GALWAY: B Donoghue; V Feeney, K Fitzgerald, C Monaghan; K Brady, D Meehan, D Burke; J Bergin (0-1), N Coleman (0-1); D Savage (0-1), P Clancy (0-1), N Meehan; M Meehan (2-5), P Joyce (0-3, one free), S Armstrong (0-1). Subs: J Devane for N Meehan (39 mins), A Burke for Brady (55 mins), M Ó Callarain for Armstrong (64 mins).
LAOIS: F Byron (1-0, penalty); D Conroy, C Begley, T McDonald; K Kelly, D Rooney, P McMahon; P Clancy, T Kelly (0-2); R Munnelly (0-6, two frees, one lineball), C Conway (0-1), C Bergin; D Brennan (0-6), S Cooke (0-2), G Kavanagh. Subs: P McDonald for T McDonald (24 mins), M Dunne for Kavanagh (half-time), P Lawlor for Bergin (41 mins).
Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).
