Second-half comeback not enough for Laois as Offaly crowned Joe McDonagh Cup champions

Laois have suffered Joe McDonagh Cup heartache after a spirited second-half comeback wasn't enough to stop Offaly from walking up the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park today.

Willie Maher's side had been trailing by seven points with 20 minutes to go and had levelled the game with 66 minutes on the clock before Offaly rallied once more to take the victory.

Offaly 2-23

Laois 0-26

Offaly started the brighter of the two teams with Laois taking their time to come to the pitch of the contest. Recently crowned Offaly Poc Fada champion Cillian Kiely opened the scoring after 60 seconds. The next piece of action saw a green flag be raised as Brian Duignan stuck the ball into Enda Rowland's top left corner to give Offaly the dream start.

Laois midfielder Aidan Corby opened his side's account soon after before Ian Shanahan gifted Dan Bourke, winning All-Ireland U-20 captian, an easy at splitting the posts. Duignan added to his goal as Offaly led 1-3 to 0-1 after six minutes. It was after this that Laois finally kicked into gear as they fired over five scores on the trot to level the game. James Duggan, Aaron Dunphy (two frees), Paddy Purcell and Fiachra C Fennell all raised white flags.

The next 10 scores were traded as Laois and Offaly came at it each other with ferocious pace. Duigan and Mossy Keyes started the run of points before Aidan Corby, Cathal King, two scores from Eoghan Cahill and three from the stick of Purcell left the score at 0-11 to 1-8 after 22 minutes. Laois went ahead for the first time after 24 minutes as Aaron Dunphy split the uprights.

Eoghan Cahill (free) and Corby's second point still saw Laois in front by a single score. Offaly went ahead soon after as points from Cahill and Kiely sailed over the black spot. The final four scores of the half were traded as Corby pointed his third for Laois with Liam O'Connell getting Laois' final white flag of the first period. Duigan and a free from Cahill saw Offaly lead 1-13 to 0-15 at the break.

Offaly like they had done in the first-half struck for a goal early in the second-half. Substitute Oisin Kelly had the ball in the Laois net within 20 seconds of the restart. Cahill pointed a free for Offaly before Aaron Dunphy got Laois' first score of the second period with a point from a placed ball. Offaly hit three on the trot as Charlie Mitchell, Killian Sampson and Cahill (free) saw them hold a seven-point lead.

Aaron Dunphy responded for Laois but Duignan replied for Johnny Kelly's side. Ian Shanahan pointed from corner-back for Laois as Mitchell kept adding to Offaly's tally. Laois took the game to Offaly as they raised five white flags without reply. Aaron Dunphy got three of those while Purcell and Ross King split the posts. Mitchell ended a 10-minute spell without a score for Offaly as they still led by three points. 

Laois levelled it courtesy of Aaron Dunphy as he scored from two 65's and a free with 66 minutes played. Offaly would make sure they had their hands on the Joe McDonagh Cup as Killian Sampson, Charlie Mitchell and Jack Clancy scored to push the Faithful County over the line.

Laois now face Wexford in next weekend's All-Ireland Preliminary quarter-final while Offaly will host Cork.