Laois and Wicklow both overturned half-time deficits to record opening-night league wins on the road.

In Division Three, the O'Moore County trailed Down by five points shortly after half time at Newry, 0-10 to 0-5, but - buoyed by the arrival of half-time replacement Donie Kingston (0-3) - reeled off seven unanswered points to lead by two after 50 minutes before Colm Murphy's goal to the bottom corner on the hour propelled them into a 1-12 to 0-11 lead.

Substitute Donal O'Hare palmed to the net as Paddy Tally's charges refused to give up but Paul Cahillane, who had earlier struck the crossbar, pounced for the insurance goal in added time as John Sugrue’s men – winners of Division Three last year – prevailed by 2-15 to 1-12.

Debutant Pat Havern and Paul Devlin shared six points for the home side in the first half but Laois - with Evan O'Carroll slotting eight points in all and Conor Boyle three - were not to be denied.

At Dungarvan, meanwhile, in Division Four, Waterford led by 0-7 to 0-1 at the break, having played with the elements behind them, but Patrick O’Connor’s goal got John Evans’ men back into it before goalkeeper Mark Jackson knocked over a late winning free – 1-7 to 0-9.

Laois - G Brody; D Seale, S Nerney, A Campion; S Attride, R Pigott, G Dillon; J O'Loughlin, K Lillis; D O'Connor, C Boyle (0-3), S Byrne; C Murphy (1-1, 0-1f), E O'Carroll (0-8, 5f, 1m), P Kingston. Subs: C Begley for A Campion, D Kingston (0-3, 1f, 1m) for D O'Connor, P Cahillane (1-0) for P Kingston, R Tyrrell for K Lillis, E Lowry for S Byrne.

Down - R Burns; R McAleenan, N Donnelly, S Murnin; S Fegan, C Flanagan, J Flynn; C Francis (0-1), L Devlin; C McGrady (0-2, 1m), C Poland, S McConville; P Devlin (0-4f), P Havern (0-3, 2f), J Johnston (0-1m). Subs: C Mooney for N Donnelly, C Quinn for P Devlin, D O'Hare (1-1) for P Havern, D Guinness for C McGrady, C Doherty for C Poland.

Referee - M McNally.

**

Wicklow - M Jackson (0-2f); O Manning, R O'Brien, J Snell; D Devereux, S Mooney, D Fitzgerald; P O'Toole, D Healy; D Hayden (0-1), A McLoughlin (0-1f), T Smith; M Kenny, C McGraynor, P O'Connor (1-2). Subs: G Murphy (0-1) for C McGraynor, C Healy for T Smith, M Doyle for P O'Connor.

Waterford - A Beresford; A Trihy (0-1), R O Ceallaigh, J McGrath; J Mullaney, B Looby, T O hUllachain; M Curry, T Prendergast (0-1); S Whelan Barrett (0-2), D Guiry, C Murray (0-1); J Curry (0-4, 3f), S Aherne, B Lynch. Subs: F O Cuirrin for J Mullaney, S O'Donovan for T O hUallachain, S Ryan for S Whelan Barrett.

Referee - J Bermingham.

Tweet

Most Read Stories