Laois win relegation battle with Westmeath

Despite playing the last half an hour a man down after the sending off of the influential PJ Scully, Laois were worthy winners against Westmeath in the battle of the two bottom teams in Division 1B of the National Hurling League on a heavy pitch in Mullingar.

Westmeath led by 0-02 to 0-01 after eight minutes, both of the home team's scores coming from frees by David Williams, either side of a well-worked point from Patrick Purcell. Ironically, Williams untypically went on to miss several scoreable frees as the half progressed. Laois took the lead in the ninth minute when a long run from Aidan Corby teed up Mark Dowling for a well-taken goal from close range.

Four unanswered points restored the home team’s advantage courtesy of Peter Clarke, Eamon Cunneen, Shane Williams and Mark Cunningham. Laois responded with three points – two of them from PJ Scully frees – to edge ahead by 1-04 to 0-06, before David Dooley made the most of sloppy Westmeath play to set up Scully for a fine goal in the 23rd minute.

The Lake County had slightly the better of the final 12 minutes of the half, outscoring their opponents by 0-03 with two Williams frees and a great individual score from Eoin Keyes to 0-02, a great angled point from Purcell and a neat effort by Jer Quinlan. Laois led by 2-06 to 0-09 at the break.

Corby doubled his tally in fine style some 90 seconds after play resumed and it got better for Tommy Fitzgerald’s troops just two minutes later when Scully whipped the sliotar to the net at the end of a long free taken by new goalkeeper Cathal Dunne, who deputised impressively for long-standing netminder Enda Rowland. Laois led by 3-09 to 0-11 and looked well in control until Scully got his marching orders in the 44th minute for an