Division 1 hurling relegation play-off
Westmeath 3-24 Laois 1-26
Division 2A semi-final
Offaly 0-23 Kerry 0-19
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LAOIS HAVE BEEN relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz hurling leagues.
Willie Maher’s side fell to a 3-24 to 1-26 relegation play-off defeat to Westmeath at Semple Stadium, Thurles, this afternoon.
Goals from Joey Boyle, Niall O’Brien and Eoin Keyes, and an 0-11 (0-8f) haul from star forward and free-taker Killian Doyle helped Westmeath remain in the top-flight for 2024.
The Lake county led 2-10 to 0-15 at half time, Boyle and O’Brien’s green flags key.
Stephen Maher was Laois’ main scoring outlet, hitting 0-8 (0-7f) overall.
It was tit-for-tat until substitute Keyes fired home in the 63rd minute, powering Joe Fortune’s side into a 3-19 to 0-25 lead.
Enda Rowland bagged an injury-time goal for the O’Moore men, but it was Westmeath who finished strongest with a flurry of late points to score a big result — and in turn, end Laois’ 10-year spell in Division 1.
Congratulations to our senior hurlers who have secured their Division 1 league status for 2024 after a 3-24 to 1-26 win over Laois at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) March 25, 2023
Well done to all players and management on a brilliant result 💪💪💪#iarmhiabu#westmeathgaa#maroonandwhitearmy pic.twitter.com/MvTafax7Ha
Meanwhile, Offaly advanced to the Division 2A final after a four-point win over Kerry.
The Faithful county will face Kildare in the final, with promotion the big prize.
Offaly were three points down at half time, and a much-improved second period got them over the line.
Johnny Kelly’s side were far more accurate before the posts, with the Kingdom’s first-hand wides undoubtedly coming back to haunt them. Eoghan Cahill was Offaly’s top scorer with 0-13 (0-11f, 1 ’65), while Pádraig Boyle hit most for Kerry with 0-8 (0-7f).
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