LEINSTER SF FIRST ROUND/Offaly 0-13 Laois 2-6: Offaly squeaked past Laois yesterday and all that was missing from Tullamore was some exit music, something along the lines of Don't Believe the Hype, that enduring Public Enemy anthem.
Here were two teams billed as genuine Leinster contenders, or at least contenders for the final after landing the softer side of the draw. The game, though, was ragged and often dull, with possession cheaply lost and inspiration limited. Salvation arrived only with the closeness of the finish.
Offaly's next opponents, Kildare, can be grateful they were in action the same day, because viewing this first hand would have given them an unavoidable sense of over-confidence. But then Offaly can only improve.
Between the sunshine and showers at least the enthusiastic crowd got value with the climax. The sides were level going into added time, and as the clock ticked out it was clear the next score would win the game.
Pascal Kelleghan's sideline looked too acutely angled to be that next score, yet he swirled it over the bar and Offaly won by the point. Assuming Maurice Fitzgerald doesn't appear for Kerry this summer it's doubtful the championship will witness a better sideline.
On the basis of what went before it would be hard to argue that Laois deserved to lose. Or win. Both sides had decent periods of possession but failed to make them count, and though Laois may have closed the better team, Offaly were still able to hold out. It was a test of maturity and class and once again Offaly had those qualities in greater reserve.
From the throw-in, though, it was clear the game wouldn't be vintage quality. The slippery surface didn't help, and nerves seemed to play a part too, but it was nine minutes before Brian McDonald put over the first score.
After a quarter hour Laois were clearly looking the better team. McDonald saw his goal sweetly struck into the net after a visionary pass from Ian Fitzgerald, and with Joe Higgins at his liveliest, the omens for Laois looked good.
Then Offaly started playing straight. Roy Malone pointed and Colm Quinn hit two of his five trusty frees, and gradually they took hold of the game.
Ciarán McManus was providing much of the inspiration (and a point, after moving to wing forward) and after a half hour the sides were tied, 1-2 to 0-5. McManus then converted a free just in time to give Offaly a narrow advantage at the break.
After the restart Laois briefly threatened to rally again but Offaly were soon enjoying their best period of the game, and built an advantage that would ultimately prove crucial. Starting with Alan McNamee on 39 minutes, they hit four points without reply. McManus was central to that drive and his efforts on the day deserve to be highlighted, though Karl Slattery was never far off in offering assistance.
Laois, however, never once lost sight of the victory. Some 10 minutes into the half they got their break, too, after a fiery run at the Offaly goal. First Greg Ramsbottom, then Noel Garvan, struck at the Offaly defence and once Higgins was brought down a penalty was the only reward.
Chris Conway wobbled a bit before taking it, yet placed the ball sufficiently well to confuse Pauric Kelly. Now just a point down, the momentum appeared to be back fin favour of Laois.
Yet Offaly's response was typically swift. Quinn converted another free on 50 minutes and for the remainder of the game possession swung wildly. If either side had managed to build consistent pressure the tight conclusion that followed could easily have been avoided.
Instead all things remained unpredictable, including the refereeing decisions. Quinn's final free some five minutes from time certainly warranted objection from the Laois players. At least substitute Stephen Kelly took the chance to level affairs again with a free just as the game entered time added on.
This was the stage when Laois needed a steady head, but Fitzgerald and the young Daragh McEvoy had been take off and their attacking options were slim. Just like last year, then, and so often times in the past, their best was not quite good enough.
Kelleghan, in contrast, had saved his best until last and with that Offaly stayed on the straight road in Leinster.
Laois may be consoled by their efforts but it's an uncertain road ahead, a road that probably approximates to their current character.
OFFALY: 1 P Kelly, 2 C Daly, 3 J Kenny, 4 B Mooney; 5 J Hurst, 6 G Rafferty, 7 K Slattery; 8 S Grennan, 9 C McManus; 10 C Quinn, 11 F Cullen, 12 A McNamee; 13 N Coughlan, 14 R Malone, 15 P Kelleghan. Subs: P Mulhare for Coughlan (57 mins), D Claffey for Malone, D Ryan for Grennan (both 65). Booked: Coughlan (13)
LAOIS: 1 F Byron; 2 D Ryan, 3 T Kelly, 4 P McDonald; 5 D Conroy, 6 K Fitzpatrick, 7 J Higgins; 8 P Clancy, 9 N Garvan; 10 D McEvoy, 11 Fitzgerald, 12 M Lawlor; 13 B McDonald, 14 G Ramsbottom, 15 C Conway. Subs: D Brennan for P McDonald (47 mins), S Kelly for McEvoy (58), J Kealy for Fitzgerald (59). Booked: D Ryan (35 mins), K Fitzpatrick (50).
