Laois off to a flyer against Offaly in Walsh Cup opener

The Laois hurlers have got their 2024 season off to the best possible start as Willie Maher's side ran out six-point winners against near neighbours Offaly in the Walsh Cup in Portlaoise this evening.

There was a massive crowd in attendance at the Centre of Excellence with Laois now ensuring they have a week off before a trip to Ballinasloe to face Galway, the other team in the group.

Laois 2-18

Offaly 0-18

It was the O'Moore men who got proceedings underway as debutante Cody Comerford was fouled with Aaron Dunphy opening the scoring within the first 60 seconds. Laois were playing some nice hurling early on as they raced into an early four-point lead with four minutes played.

Aidan Corby scored two on the bounce, his second being a beautiful long-range score from a tight angle. Returning Laois star Diarmuid Conway got Laois' fourth point before Offaly finally got off the mark after five minutes. Luke Watkins splitting the posts before David Nally opened his account from a placed ball.

Laois replied with two scores of their own as another debutante Jer Quinlan finished off a fine team score which saw the likes of Comerford, Aaron Dunphy and Martin Phelan all involved. Laois goalkeeper pointed a long-range free to leave the score at six points to two.

Offaly would soon be within one point of Laois as David Cleary, Nally and Eimhin Kelly all raised white flags for the Faithful County. The next score would be a crucial one for Maher's side as John Lennon played the ball to Mark Dowling, who went on a superb run before blasting the ball beyond Stephen Corcoran in the Offaly goal. Killian Sampson and Rowland (65') shared the next two points.

Nally took his tally to four points in the first-half for Offaly as he slotted over two more frees. Comerford turned provider for the next Laois score as his catch teed up Lennon to raise a white flag. Offaly ended the half with two more frees as Nally pointed his fifth and sixth points. Laois could and should have been further ahead with them registering 10 wides to Offaly's five. A single point separated the sides, 1-8 to 0-10.

Aaron Dunphy got the second-half underway with his second free while Leon Fox and Nally (free) pointed to level proceedings as the rain began to fall on a cold night in Portlaoise. Laois were then awarded a penalty after a foul on James Duggan with Rowland tasked with running to the opposite box and the Abbeyleix St Lazarian's man made no mistake with his finish.

Rowland added to his tally of a goal and two with his second 65' of the contest with Nally providing an Offaly reply from a free. The next three scores all came from Laois hurls as Martin Phelan scored two points while Willie Dunphy came off the bench to open his account from play. Charlie Mitchell and Aaron Dunphy (free) traded points as did Rowland (free) and Eoghan Cahill (free).

Aaron Dunphy pointed his first from play to push Laois six points in front. Cahill got his second score off the bench but it was goals that Johnny Kelly's side would need to get back into the contest. Willie Dunphy and Aaron Dunphy raised late white flags for Laois with Joe Hoctor getting the game's final score.

Maher will be pleased with the Laois performance from start to finish with Laois' shooting just failing them in what was a superb showing for the first week of January. Laois have a week off now before a trip to face Galway in Ballinasloe on Sunday, January 14.