Kingston catches fire as Laois trounce Westmeath

Niall McIntyre

Lovely Laois are lording it.

Go back two weeks and Laois were ten points down at half-time in their Leinster first round clash against Wexford. That must seem so long ago for the O’Moore County, who on Saturday evening made it back to back Leinster championship wins when they comprehensively defeated Westmeath by ten points.

They dug deep to grind victory from the jaws of defeat after extra-time in Wexford Park, and that spirited triumph looks to have breathed life into this explosive outfit, who really hit the high notes this time around.

On Saturday evening, Paul Kingston caught fire and Westmeath, minus the injured John Heslin, the America bound James Dolan and a couple of others, couldn’t muster anything in response.

John Sugrue’s men were again slow to get going in O’Connor Park, but patience is a virtue and without forcing anything, they gradually and decisively took a stranglehold on this game.

That man Kingston was the Lake County’s tormentor in chief, the Arles Killeen club man bagging a hattrick for himself, but the straw that broke Westmeath’s back was without doubt the loss of St. Loman’s man John Heslin. He was only able to take a place on the bench after some recent injury struggles.

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And Westmeath really struggled without their talisman. Despite a positive start, with Luke Loughlin and Ger Egan pointing early on for them, Laois responded quickly and forcefully.

Paul Kingston was to the fore for the O’Moore County while Ross Munnelly was typically dead eyed from placed balls.

John Connellan’s 30th minute black card would prove to be a crucial blow for Colin Kelly’s men. Upon his departure from the field, the scores were tied, fast forward five minutes and Laois would have a four point, 0-10 0-6 half-time lead.

All hope was not yet lost for the men in maroon, however, as they would be playing the second half with a strong Tullamore breeze at their backs. As it turned out, the breeze made no difference whatsoever as a rampant Laois side, inspired by Paul Kingston played all the football into the teeth of the gale.

With 45 minutes on the clock, the Arles-Killeen forward Kingston hit for a goal that would prove decisive in the outcome of this game.

Heslin came on as a sub in the 52nd minute and his impact was almost instant, with Westmeath bundling over a goal less than a minute later, but it would prove to be too little too late.

Kingston followed up with more green flags on minutes 49 and 59, and big Evan O’Carroll sealed the deal with a fourth just a minute after he entered the field.

The blues would go on to win by ten. They now march onto the Leinster semi-finals. Westmeath, meanwhile will be listening intently to Monday morning’s open qualifier draw.