All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round One/ Galway 3-20 Laois 1-14: Ger Loughnane made his championship debut as Galway manager at Portlaoise on Saturday evening and, despite recording a 12-point victory over the home team, declared himself far from happy with his team's performance.
The Clare man had landed himself in hot water by declaring that the standard of opposition in Galway's group was weak - next weekend he pays a visit to Ennis to face his former understudy Tony Considine and that is bound to spark hostilities.
The visitors, who made their league exit to Wexford and earlier suffered defeat to Dublin, were hoping to record their first victory over Leinster opposition since Loughnane took charge.
Galway, who have hammered Laois in the last two years in the qualifiers, got off to the perfect start with early goals from Niall Healy and Damien Hayes.
Laois settled down, however, and when James Young drove a 20-metre free to the net the home team were hurling with more purpose and confidence.
The same player added points - and two massive, long-range points from goalkeeper Paddy Mullaney helped the home team take a surprise lead before half-time, 1-10 to 2-6.
The second half saw Laois continue their dominance and for a while former television and newspaper columnist Loughnane looked a worried man. Then Galway made several astute changes, including the arrival of a few former stars such as Kevin Broderick and suddenly it all went right for last year's beaten quarter-finalists.
Loughrea clubman Damien Hayes crashed home his second goal and a succession of points ensured a comfortable, if unconvincing, victory over a home team that had suffered a 19-point defeat to Offaly in the Leinster championship.
And so next weekend Laois make the long trip to Belfast to face Antrim, who played so well against Clare.
Eugene Cloonan, who missed out on last year's campaign, returned and scored 10 points before being replaced with five minutes remaining.
LAOIS: P Mullaney (0-2, frees); K Fitzpatrick, C Healy, C Dunne; J Phelan, M Whelan, M McEvoy; J Fitzpatrick (0-3), S Dollard; J Brophy, J Young (1-8, 1-6 frees), JJ McHugh; T Fitzgerald (0-1), W Hyland, P Russell. Subs: D McGill for K Fitzpatrick (20 mins); B McEvoy for Phelan (48 mins); B Fitzgerald for McGill, C Delaney for Hyland (both 68 mins); D Bergin for Russell
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Joyce, D Cloonan, D Collins; D Hardiman, J Lee, G Mahon (0-2); E Lynch (0-1), D Tierney; A Kerins (0-2), D Forde, I Tannian (0-3); N Healy (1-0), E Cloonan (0-10, six frees), D Hayes (2-1). Subs: K Broderick (0-1)for Healy (44 mins); R Murray for Lynch (half-time); K Wade for Cloonan (65 mins).
Referee: D Connolly(Kilkenny).
