Sport

Laois retain title in tight encounter

Under-21 FC Leinster and Ulster finals/Laois 0-13 Offaly 1-7: Laois became the sixth county to put under-21 one crowns back-…

Mon Apr 16 2007 - 01:00

Under-21 FC Leinster and Ulster finals/Laois 0-13 Offaly 1-7:Laois became the sixth county to put under-21 one crowns back-to -back when they defeated Offaly at Portlaoise on Saturday evening. Before a crowd of over 8,000 two well-matched teams produced thrilling football.

Laois received a massive boost 24 hours before the game when they learned a red card issued to midfielder Brendan Quigley in a recent National Football League clash was rescinded.

The home team opened the scoring with a brace of points from David Conway and full forward Donie Brennan. Laois were in control but hit three bad wides before defender Stephen Lalor soloed up field to increase the lead to three before the visitors pointed through full-forward Thomas Coughlan.

This was only a brief respite as Laois added further points from Michael Tierney and his cousin, Craig Rogers. Five minutes from the break Offaly were thrown a lifeline when a defensive error allowed Seán Ryan run through a gap in the Laois defence to score the game's only goal. Laois closed the scoring with a well-taken point from Craig Rogers for a half-time lead of 0-6 to 1-1.

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The opening minutes of the second half saw an exchange of points by Tierney and Coughlan. Brennan increased Laois' advantage, then Offaly hit a purple patch with a brace of points from Stephen Lonergan and Ken Casey to leave just a point separating the teams with 15 minutes remaining.

At this stage it looked as if the title might change hands but in the final quarter Laois established control at midfield and reinforced authority on the scoreboard with points from Tierney and Conway.

In the closing minutes both sides added two points apiece to leave the home side retaining their crown.

LAOIS: C Munnelly; C Healy (capt), M Timmons, B Meredith; S Lalor (0-1), J O'Loughlin, N Donogher; B Quigley, C Óg Greene; C Rogers (0-2), S O'Neill, S O'Leary; M Tierney (0-5), D Brennan (0-2), D Conway (0-2). Subs: D Kingston (0-1) for S O'Neill, Smith for O'Leary, Ian Fleming for Donogher,;

OFFALY: D Bracken; G Grehan, R Dalton, E Byrne; S Lonergan (0-1), P McConway, J Keane; N Smith, C Mahon; N Darby, R O'Connor, S Ryan (1-0); W Mulhall, T Coughlan (0-2), K Casey (0-4, frees). Subs: G Hickey for Mulhall, J Rafferty for Darby, A Lynam for O'Connor.

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).