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Fired-up Offaly bring Laois back to ....
Monday January 23rd 2006
Offaly 0-15 Laois 0-10
AFTER their clinical demolition of Kildare a week earlier, Laois were brought back down to earth with a bang yesterday by a very fired-up and well-organised Offaly side in this O'Byrne Cup semi-final at O'Moore Park, which started 10 minutes late to accommodate the latecomers in the 7,000 crowd.
The Faithful County had not registered a victory over their midland neighbours since the 2002 Leinster Championship tie in Tullamore, so the result was enthusiastically celebrated by their supporters.
Kevin Kilmurray's side who face Meath in the final next Sunday in Navan, played as if their lives depended on it. Certainly, they were eager to wipe out memories of their last meeting, in last summer's championship, when Laois snatched victory with a late goal from Ross Munnelly.
Offaly had only four points to spare over Louth in the previous round, but they were strengthened by the return of Rhode pair Shane Sullivan and Alan McNamee, who had been in Cardiff with their club last weekend, and the local derby element of the contest doubtless served to fuel their desire.
Tower
Sullivan was a tower of strength at full-back, making a number of spectacular high catches in the second half. McNamee put in a solid performance at midfield when partnered by Neville Coughlan in the first half, and by Ciaran McManus, who moved from centre-forward, on the restart.
Scott Brady, and Nigel Grennan also excelled in the Offaly defence, and McManus led by example up front in the first half, kicking a magnificent point into the strong wind from over 45 metres, and adding another score from a '45'. The right flank pair of John Reynolds and Colm Quinn also caused consistent problems for the embattled Laois defence.
Offaly laid the foundations for the victory when holding their opponents to level scores, 0-8 each at half time.
"In the first half when we had the wind, we did not make enough use of our scoring chances," argued Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer, who, despite the result, added he was glad his side will have a break next Sunday before the opening League fixture against Wexford on Sunday week.
After 16 minutes of the second half Offaly had raced into a 0-12 to 0-8 lead, but Laois hit back with two points to narrow the gap with 13 minutes remaining.
However, on 53 and 61 minutes the home side failed to profit from two goal chances. First, Gary Kavanagh blazed wide after an intricate five-man move, and then Colm Kelly had a shot deflected for a '45'.
Droves
After this, the home fans started leaving in droves, and Offaly hammered home their dominance with two points from Quinn, and one from sub Pascal Kellaghan.
"It was an encouraging performance, and the lads played with a lot of commitment and intelligence," enthused Offaly selector Gerry Cooney. "As well, the fact that we're in the final against Meath next Sunday is good preparation for our opening League game against Cork on Sunday week. But it's only January and we won't be getting carried away with the result."
Cathal Ryan and Joe Higgins were prominent in the Laois defence, Noel Garvan worked purposely at midfield, but the attack was over-reliant on Munnelly and Beano McDonald.
SCORERS - Offaly: C McManus (1 '45'), C Quinn (2f) 0-3 each, J Reynolds, T Deehan (2f) 0-2 each, N Coughlan, A McNamee, L Mooney, S Ryan, P Kellaghan 0-1 each. Laois: R Munnelly 0-5 (4f), B McDonald 0-2, P Clancy, C Kelly, C Conway 0-1 each.
OFFALY - P Kelly; K Lynam, S Sullivan, P McConway; B Mooney, S Brady, N Grennan; N Coughlan, A McNamee; J Reynolds, C McManus, L Mooney; C Quinn, R Connor, T Deehan. Subs: P Kelleghan for Coughlan (h-t), S Ryan for Reynolds (48), N McNamee for Connor (69).
LAOIS - M Nolan; P McDonald, C Ryan, P Begley; J Higgins, D Conroy, P McMahon; P Clancy, N Garvan; C Parkinson, R Munnelly, G Kavanagh; B McDonald, C Kelly, C Conway. Subs: P Lawlor for Kavanagh (58) S Cooke for Parkinson (58).
REF - P O'Reilly (Longford).