There is little to be said of any real interest about this travesty of a match in Birr where the All-Ireland champions, Offaly, were walloped by their neighbours Laois, by an overwhelming 20 points.
It may well be that it is wrong to describe the Offaly team which took the field as being All-Ireland champions. Only one of the players who appeared in Croke Park last September, Johnny Dooley, played. Eight of those who lined out had never played in the county jersey previously.
Why such a farce should be imposed on hurling supporters, 1,000 or more of whom paid to watch, is difficult to understand and even more difficult to explain. Perhaps some of the Offaly players were suffering from sunburn following a holiday in Cape Town. They had returned only on Saturday afternoon from their sojourn in South Africa. It took a mere 20 seconds for a sharp and eager Laois team to stamp their mark on the match when Liam Tynan slammed the ball to the Offaly net. Little changed subsequently. Offaly's first of their mere six points did not arrive until 18 minutes later which told a vivid story of what the afternoon had in store. For Laois, who now face Wexford in the final, this was more valuable than two or three nights training; but they will have gained little else. Leading by 2-5 to 0-0 after 18 minutes, they were never seriously challenged. and although Offaly players such as Ger Oakley, Michael O'Hara, Johnny Dooley, Cillian Farrell and the determined Daithi Regan fought bravely, none of the others gave any indication that championship places were a possibility.
It could never be seen as anything like a genuine test for Laois players. David Cuddy, Declan Rooney and Liam Tynan plundered the goals which sent Offaly tumbling and Niall Rigney, majestic at centre back, contributed three points from 65s and a free from an even longer distance.
The fact that Laois shot no fewer than 15 wides gives an even deeper insight into what went on. From the first minute and Tynan's goal, Laois strolled through the match. Perhaps the most notable event of a ponderous second half was the appearance of the ubiquitous little brown dog, who managed to enliven the attitude of the crowd by advancing to the Offaly goalmouth to address himself to an Offaly goalpost in the way that all dogs do. Sadly, it was that kind of a match.
Laois: R Cashin; PJ Peacock, P Cuddy, J O'Sullivan; D Russell (0-1), N Rigney (0-4, three 65s one free), A Bergin; O Coss, D Conroy (0-1); D Cuddy (1-4, one free), D Rooney (1-2), C Cuddy; C Grant (0-1), M Rooney (0-1), L Tynan (1-3). Subs: J Cuddy for O'Sullivan (38 mins); N Delaney for Tynan (38 mins); D Dowling for Bergin (54 mins).
Offaly: S Ryan; R Devery, G Oakley, M O'Hara; H Bevans, M Hand, W Comerford; J Dooley (0-3, 1 free), J Guinan (0-1); C Gath, D Kelly, C Farrell (0-2); J Ryan, D Regan, B Whelahan. Subs: P Mulhare for Guinan (halftime); N Claffey for Bevans (half-time); C Cassidy for D Kelly (42 mins).
Referee: J Kelly (Wexford).
