Laois claim stunning win over Offaly in Leinster SHC
Tuesday 9 June 2015 10:02, UK
Laois ended a 43-year run of defeats at the hands of neighbours Offaly in O’Moore Park with a superb 0-29 to 0-21 victory.
The final margin was the least the hosts deserved for a whirlwind performance, one that looked anything but likely when Offaly moved into a 0-10 to 0-6 lead around the 25-minute mark.
The win sets up a Leinster semi-final meeting with Galway on June 20, which will be shown live on Sky Sports, and was the perfect outcome for manager Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett, who returned to take charge of Laois after temporarily resigning in the build-up to the game.
As expected, Laois lined out with Joe Campion playing as a withdrawn corner-forward and Offaly used their numerical advantage in the full-back line to great effect in the early stages, picking out Niall Wynne and David King with short puckouts and then working the ball up the field into the wind.
Joe Bergin, Paddy Murphy and captain Dan Currams all looked sharp and helped build a lead for Brian Whelahan’s men, while Brian Carroll struck two points in succession.
However, a 10-minute purple patch before half-time completely changed the complexion of this tie as Laois finally started to gain some traction underneath the full distance Offaly puckouts.
The O’Moore county have relied heavily on their ability to pick off points from range this season and that was again in evidence as Willie Hyland and Charlie Dwyer split the Offaly uprights with a string of sumptuous strikes from out on either flank.
Stunning
Two placed-ball strikes from Keenan set the home side in motion but it was a glorious snap shot from U21 star Dwyer that really raised the volume of the crowd and set in train a stunning sequence of scores.
Eight scores in succession whistled over James Dempsey’s crossbar before Laois went into the dressing rooms to rapturous applause, leading by 0-14 to 0-10.
Shane Dooley opened the scoring with a free for Offaly shortly after the restart but Laois soon rediscovered their rhythm and continued to pepper the Offaly goal with shots, making light of the breeze and their depleted forward line.
Cillian Kiely battled manfully for Offaly after his introduction, while Carroll was energetic and combative, but the remainder of the Faithful forward line was non-existent as John A Delaney and Joe Fitzpatrick cleared countless deliveries away from the danger area.
The visitors were given a brief moment of hope when they were seemingly awarded a penalty by referee James Owens, but in the face of advice from his linesmen he reversed his call and Laois cleared their lines from the resultant throw-in.
As the clock ticked past the hour mark Laois entered celebration mode, with Stephen Maher and Zane Keenan adding some wonderful scores to round off a magnificent and historic afternoon.
Laois: E Reilly (0-1f); M Whelan, B Stapleton, C Healy; J Fitzpatrick, JA Delaney, T Delaney; P Purcell (0-2), Z Keenan (0-11, 6f, 1 ’65, 1 s/l); D Palmer (0-1), T Fitzgerald; W Hyland (0-7); C Dwyer (0-5), S Maher (0-2), J Campion.
Subs: P Whelan for Purcell (64), J Walsh for Palmer (69), PJ Scully for Maher (70), B Conroy for Fitzgerald (70+1).
Offaly: J Dempsey; D King (0-1), D Shortt, N Wynne; C Parlon, C Egan, P Camon; S Ryan, E Nolan (0-1); P Murphy, J Mulrooney, D Currams (0-4); S Dooley (0-10, 9f, 1 ‘65), J Bergin (0-1), B Carroll (0-3).
Subs: C Kiely (0-1) for Ryan (ht), E Murphy for Parlon (41), S Cleary for Mulrooney (44), S Wynne for King (60)
Ref: James Owens (Wexford)
