All-Ireland senior hurling championship qualifier round one played in Portlaoise on Saturday June 30th
Galway 3.20   Laois 1.14

Galway entered the 2007 Guinness senior hurling championship with a opening round qualifier game against Laois in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday June 30th under the guidance for the first time of former Clare Manager Ger Loughnane and his backroom team. Galway who have put in a huge training programme over the past 7 months showed three new players in their line up namely Goalkeeper Colm Callanan of Kinvara, Centre half Back John Lee of Liam Mellows and Wing Forward Iarla Tannian of Ardrahan. It was also a first championship appearance for Full Back Diarmuid Cloonan since 2004.
Galway were expected to have it easy against Laois especially as they had lost heavily to Offaly in the Leinster Championship a few weeks back and also had lost rather badly to Galway in the last two year's of the qualifiers. Ger Loughnane's hotly fancied team were pushed all the way this time though by a resilient Laois who only gave up late in the second half. Four unanswered points before half time along with a 21st minute goal from James Young saw the home home team take a 1.10 to 2.06 interval lead despite two early Galway goals from Niall Healy and Damien Hayes. Galway lost Diarmuid Cloonan early on through injury and his replacement Conor Dervan of Mullagh did not have  a happy time in at Full Back.
The prospect of a real shock was on when Laois began the second half with  a pointed free from James Young, who was to have  a very good evening on the free's. The home side continued to match the visitors score for score but Galway never looked back once they regained the lead in the 49th minute with a Eugene Cloonan free. Galway added a third goal late on from Damien Hayes to build up a big lead in the finish. Kevin Broderick, who didn't start the game came on  at half time and scored a brilliant point straight away and generally freshened up the forward's. Eugene's Cloonan's free taking and also four points from play went a long way in helping Galway to this win. Ger Mahon of Kinvara playing at wingback was the big star for Galway with  a brilliant performance. The final score line was probably flattering to Galway which read 3.20 to 1.14 to Laois. Galway now play against Clare next week in a game that will tell a lot about where Galway are at at this moment.

Scorers: Eugene Cloonan 1.10, Damien Hayes 2.01, Iarla Tannian 0.03, Niall Healy 1.00, Alan Kerins 0.02, Ger Mahon 0.02, Eoin Lynch 0.01, Kevin Broderick 0.01.
Galway Lineout: Colm Callanan Kinvara, Damien Joyce Cappatagle, Diarmuid Cloonan Athenry, David Collins Liam Mellows, Derek Hardiman Mullagh, John Lee Liam Mellows, Ger Mahon Kinvara, Eoin Lynch Portumna, David Tierney Kilnadeema/Leitrim, Alan Kerins Clarenbridge, David Forde Clarenbridge, Iarla Tannian Ardrahan, Damien Hayes Portumna, Eugene Cloonan Athenry, Niall Healy Craughwell.
Subs Used: Richie Murray St Thomas, Kevin Broderick Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry, Karl Wade Sarsfields.

Iarla Tannian scores a point against Laois in the qualifiers game

Damien Hayes in happy form after scoring a goal against Laois