DIGEST: Offaly got their Leinster Under-21 championship campaign off to a whirlwind start following a runaway 4-14 to 1-7 win over Laois at Birr yesterday evening.
The home side led by 3-8 to 0-3 at half-time. The goals came from Rory Hanniffy (two), his first in the first minute, and Michael Cordial following a surging three-man move.
OFFALY: S O'Connor; D Moran, K Brady, B Teehan; P McIntyre, J Brady, B O'Meara; D Tanner (0-1), S Brown (0-1); B Carroll (0-3), P Teehan (0-2), M Cordial (2-2); R Hanniffy (2-3), K Kelly (0-1), D Murray (0-1). Subs: M Leonard for R Hanniffey, C Dunne for S Browne, K McDonville for B Teehan, E Grimes for J Brady.
LAOIS: P Mullaney; D Brophy, M McEvoy, M Bowe; E Browne, J Phelan (0-1, 65), O Bergin (0-1); F Keenan (1-3), K O'Keeffe; C Coonan, R Conroy, B Ferns; B McCormack, T Fitzgerald, E Jackman (0-2). Subs: D Keenan for B McCormack, E Dunne for B Ferns.
Referee: J Kelly (Wexford).
CRICKET: The New Zealand Women's team arrives in Dublin this weekend for three one-day internationals, reports Karl Johnston. The matches will be played at Castle Avenue next Monday, July 1st, at Malahide on Wednesday and at College Park on Saturday, July 6th.
Meanwhile, James Bennett of The Hills has been named as captain of the Leinster squad for the Under-15 interprovincial tournament which will be played in the North West Cricket Union (NWCU) area on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
LEINSTER UNDER-15 SQUAD: J Bennett (The Hills, capt), R Allright (Merrion), P Baragwanath (Malahide), I Bertram (North County), D Campion (Merrion), A Caren (Rush), C Geraghty (Malahide), T Lewis (Merrion), F McAllister (Rush), N McDarby (CYM), R O'Brien (Clontarf), K Tonetti (Merrion).
