Second-half scoring blitz sees Offaly leave Laois GAA hurlers in the dust

Laois endured a tough afternoon in Portlaoise as Offaly produced a dominant second-half display to claim victory in their National Hurling League Division 1B encounter on Sunday. This was new manager Tommy Fitzgerald’s debut game after their first round game was called off against Westmeath.

Despite leading by two points at the break, Laois were overpowered in the second half, conceding 1-15 while managing just 1-4 themselves. A stoppage-time penalty from Enda Rowland added some respectability to the scoreboard, but it did little to mask a disappointing collapse.

Offaly 1-24

Laois 1-15

Having drawn with Carlow in the opening round, Offaly arrived in Laois Hire O’Moore Park determined to make amends. They were still missing key players, including Cillian Kiely, Ben Conneely, and Eoghan Cahill, but welcomed Brian Duignan back into the starting lineup. While Laois had hoped to capitalise on their opponent’s injury concerns, it was Offaly who stepped up their performance when it mattered most.

Tommy Fitzgerald’s side played with the wind in the first half and made the most of it, edging ahead 0-11 to 0-9 by the interval. However, they could count themselves slightly fortunate to be in front. Offaly were wasteful in front of goal, missing at least two clear-cut chances. Brian Duignan had an early opportunity but sent his shot over the bar when a goal looked certain, while Charlie Mitchell also opted for a point when a major score was on.

At the other end, Laois carved out a couple of goal chances of their own, but Offaly goalkeeper Mark Troy was equal to them. He produced a superb save to deny Jer Quinlan in the 10th minute before pulling off another stop seven minutes later to prevent Tomas Keyes from finding the net.

Laois had been slightly second-best in general play during the first 25 minutes, but they finished the half well, hitting four unanswered points to move ahead at the break. Three of those came from Aaron Dunphy frees, with Charles Dwyer also on target.

With their advantage at half-time, the expectation was for Laois to dig in and make life difficult for Offaly after the restart. Instead, it was the visitors who completely took over.

Offaly emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and quickly wiped out the Laois lead. Three points in quick succession – two of them from play via Dan Ravenhill and Dan Bourke – put them 0-12 to 0-11 in front within seven minutes of the restart. While Dunphy briefly levelled the game again with a free, Offaly never looked back from there.

By the 49th minute, they had edged ahead 0-15 to 0-14, and sensing an opportunity to take full control, they went for the kill. Over the next sixteen minutes, they hit an unanswered 0-8, stretching their tally to 0-23 before Laois could muster another score.

The O’Moore men simply had no response. Offaly were winning all the individual battles, dominating possession, and finishing clinically. Brian Duignan was instrumental, landing a series of long-range frees, while Colin Spain, Dan Bourke, and Dan Ravenhill also chipped in with well-taken scores from play.

Laois, meanwhile, struggled to make any impact in attack. Offaly’s work rate across the pitch ensured they were forced into rushed efforts and difficult angles, resulting in a string of wides. Even in the final minutes, when the contest was beyond doubt, Offaly’s hunger didn’t relent – a reflection of their superior conditioning and mentality on the day.

With the result already decided, Offaly applied the finishing touch in the 68th minute when David Nally struck for the game’s first goal. Set up brilliantly by Dan Ravenhill, Nally fired past Rowland to put an exclamation mark on Offaly’s second-half dominance.

Rowland had the final say on the scoreboard when Laois were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time. The goalkeeper stepped up and converted, but it was little more than a consolation on a day when Laois had been comprehensively second best.

For Laois, this defeat will be a tough one to take. While they had spells of good play in the first half, their second-half performance left much to be desired. Offaly’s energy, work rate, and composure under pressure made the difference, and Laois simply had no answer once the tide turned against them.

With tougher games ahead in Division 1B, Laois will need to regroup quickly. Defensive organisation and attacking efficiency will both require improvement if they are to bounce back in the coming rounds. Otherwise, more difficult afternoons could be in store.

SCORERS– Offaly: Brian Duignan 0-13 (10f and 1 '65), Dan Ravenhill 0-4, David Nally 1-0, Dan Bourke and Charlie Mitchell 0-2 each, Donal Shirley, Killian Samspon and Colin Spain 0-1 each. 

Laois: Aaron Dunphy 0-6 (5f and 1 '65), Enda Rowland 1-1 (penalty and free), Jordan Walshe, Charles Dwyer and David Dooley 0-2 each, Aidan Corby and Patrick Purcell 0-1 each.

OFFALY: Mark Troy; Padraig Cantwell, Ciaran Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Killian Sampson, Dan Bourke, Oisin Kelly; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan. Subs: David Nally for Duignan (67m), Jack Clancy for Mitchell (71m), Sam Bourke for Spain (71m).

LAOIS: Enda Rowland (Abbeyleix St Lazarian's); Padraic Dunne (The Harps), Lee Cleere (Clough-Ballacolla), Donnchadh Hartnett (Rosenallis); Tom Cuddy (Camross), Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis), Padraig Delaney (The Harps); Aidan Corby (Clough-Ballacolla), Jordan Walshe (Clough-Ballacolla); David Dooley (Rosenallis), Jer Quinlan (Borris-Kilcotton), Tomas Keyes (Camross); Charles Dwyer (Ballinakill), Aaron Dunphy (Borris-Kilcotton), Martin Phelan (Castletown). Subs: Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom) for Quinlan (HT), Patrick Purcell (Rathdowney-Errill) for Phelan (42m), Liam O'Connell (Rathdowney-Errill) for Cleere (48m), Eanna Lyons (Ballyfin) for Dunphy (58m), Mark Dowling (Camross) for Corby (64m).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)