D1B: Offaly too strong for rivals Laois
Colin Egan of Offaly
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION IB: OFFALY 1-17 LAOIS 0-15
By John Fallon
Substitute Liam Langton rocketed a late goal for Offaly as they pulled away to a comfortable five-point win over midland rivals Laois at O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
The former Offaly minor hurler of the year found the net late on to push Eamonn Kelly’s men clear and Laois, who had an extra man for most of the second-half when they had the wind, just had no response.
Offaly lost to Laois for the first time since 1972 in the Leinster championship last year but weren’t found wanting on this occasion.
Zane Keenan shot 11 points in that win for Laois at O’Moore Park but he only managed two late scores after coming on in this one. Instead opposing sharp-shooter Shane Dooley hit the biggest tally, with 12 points.
Laois fell to their first league defeat to Kerry in 52 years last weekend, and manager Seamus Plunkett will find it difficult to drag his side out of the relegation battle in the second tier after two defeats in a row.
Offaly were also beaten first time out, 2-21 to 0-15 against Clare at Cusack Park, but had fought hard to stay in contention until late in that game.
This win was comprehensive even though they only led 0-9 to 0-6 at half-time after playing with a strong breeze at their backs in the opening half.
Dooley got the Offaly account up and running early and when Joey O’Connor slotted it looked as though they would took full advantage of the elements.
But one of two late replacements, Ross King, was on target as Laois took a 0-3 to 0-2 lead. Colin Egan pushed Offaly two in front after 20 minutes and then Stephen Maher reduced the arrears to the minimum.
Offaly just couldn’t pull clear and while Shane Dooley hit three frees in a row two big efforts from Enda Rowland ensured Laois only trailed by three at the break.
They had the breeze to come in the second-half, but like Offaly they didn’t use it well. However they did draw level just six minutes into the second-half. And when Joey O’Connor was shown red Offaly looked in trouble.
But Dooley kept his cool from the placed balls and despite the introduction of Keenan and Willie Hyland Laois didn’t have enough in their tank, and Langton’s goal sealed it.
Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley 0-12 (7f, 0-1 ’65), L Langton 1-0, P Murphy 0-2, J O’Connor 0-1, C Egan 0-1, S Kinsella 0-1.
Scorers for Laois: PJ Scully 0-5 (5f), S Maher 0-3, Z Keenan 0-2 (1f, 0-1 ’65), E Rowland 0-2 (2f), R King 0-2, W Hyland 0-1.
**OFFALY: **J Dempsey; N Wynne, C McDonald, S Gardiner; D Shortt, D Kelleher, P Camon; S Ryan, J O’Connor; P Murphy, C Egan, S Kinsella; S Dooley, J Bergin, J Mulrooney. Subs: J Gorman for J Mulrooney (25 mins), P Guinan for Kelleher (51), L Langton for Gorman (61), J Sampson for Ryan (70), S Cleary for Murphy (72).
LAOIS: E Rowland; D Palmer, D Maher, C Healy; L Bergin, N Foyle, R Mullaney; T Delaney, M Whelan; P Purcell, S Maher, C Collier; R King, W Dunphy, PJ Scully.** Subs:** B Reddin for Purcell (49 mins) Z Keenan for Dunphy (53), W Hyland for Collier (54), C Stapleton for Delaney (58), M Kavanagh for Scully (70).
Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).
