Offaly put 14-man Laois to the sword to record first championship win over Laois since 2002

Offaly have finally gotten the better of Laois in the championship after Declan Kelly's side recorded a comfortable victory over Justin McNulty's Laois team in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this evening.

Laois were reduced to 14-men after 21 minutes as James Kelly was given his marching orders for a hit on Dylan Hyland. Laois rallied to level the game at half-time and went ahead at the beginning of the second-half but that's as good as it got for the O'Moore County.

Leinster Football Championship Quarter-Final

Offaly 2-13

Laois 1-8

It was Declan Kelly's side who got off to the better start as they opened up an early four point lead after seven minutes. A dropped ball in the Laois defence gave Jack Byrant a goal chance with 10 seconds on the clock but the Offaly forward blasted the ball over the bar. Dylan Hyland opened his account for Offaly's second point as he broke through Laois' defence. The game's first placed ball followed as Keith O'Neill was fouled by James Kelly with Bryant pointing the resulting free. Bryant kicked his third score soon after from another free.

Laois finally got their first notch on the scoreboard after eight minutes as captain Evan O'Carroll pointed from a free. The Offaly captain Lee Pearson replied almost instantly for his side after a great move up the field. O'Carroll kicked his and Laois' second points of the contest after 19 minutes. Hyland added to his point from play as raised a white flag from a free. Disaster then struck for Laois as full-back James Kelly was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball tackle. Keith O'Neil pointed for Offaly after the red card

Laois were five points down at this stage and looked to be fading from the contest but in reality, the red card sprung Justin McNulty's men to life as they outscored Offaly 1-3 to 0-1 for the remainder of the first period. Killian Roche got his name on the score sheet from a free under stands before Laois struck for goal. Eoin Buggie teeing up Shaun Fitzpatrick to raise a green flag at the second attempt after a great save from Ian Duffy on the first effort.

Ruairi McNamee pushed Offaly two points ahead in reply to the goal but Laois would end the half with two points to level the game at the break. Eoin Buggie off the outside of his right boot and another free from Roche saw the sides go in level at 1-5 to 0-8 with it all to play for in the second-half.

Laois went ahead for the first time with 37 minutes on the clock as Evan O'Carroll pointed a free, Laois' next score didn't come until the 60th minute. Offaly really took control as Hyland pointed two frees before a dropped ball by Ben Dempsey on his own 14-yard line gave O'Neill a simple task of tapping the ball into the Laois net. Offaly would rattle the Laois net for a second goal soon after as Kieran Lillis lost possession on Offaly's 65-yard line and with Laois having committed men upfield it allowed Offaly to play in Jordan Hayes who had only Killian Roche to beat and he made no mistake with his finish.

Keith O'Neill kicked another point for Offaly as they now led 2-11 to 1-6. Hyland took his tally to five points and his fourth from placed balls to increase The Faithful County's advantage. Offaly just kept flooding forward as O'Neill pointed after Laois had tried to play the ball out from the back. Mark Barry kicked two frees in succession for Laois to end the game.

Laois now have four weeks off before they begin their Tailteann Cup campaign while Offaly will make the trip to Croke Park for the semi-finals against either Meath or Dublin.