Offaly claim decisive win over Laois as Dublin await

Offaly 2-13 Laois 1-8

Goal from Keith O’Neill and Jordan Hayes propelled Offaly to a decisive victory over Laois in Saturday night's Leinster SFC quarter-final in Portlaoise.

It was Offaly's first Leinster SFC win over Laois since 2022 and it was more clear-cut than most people expected beforehand.

Even allowing for the dismissal of defender James Kelly, which left Laois down to 14 men as early as the 21st minute, Offaly were by far the better team on the night.

The fact that Offaly operated in a higher division in this year's Allianz Football League was probably a factor in how the game unfolded, despite Laois earning promotion from Division 4.

After Offaly had built a 0-6 to 0-2 lead, Laois responded positively to Kelly's red card and, aided by Shaun Fitzpatrick’s goal, they were level at half-time, 1-5 to 0-8.

But Declan Kelly's charges took command in the second half. The first Offaly goal came after pressure yielded a turnover from a short Laois kickout, as the sharp O'Neill finished the ball to the net in soccer style.

Clonbullogue's O'Neill, an All-Ireland U-20 medal winner in 2021, finished the game with 1-3 to his credit.

A fine solo goal from Edenderry's Jordan Hayes, after Laois were again punished for losing possession, effectively sealed victory for Offaly.

The Offaly full back line of Lee Pearson, Declan Hogan and David Dempsey curbed the threat of the Laois inside forwards, while Cormac Egan showed his ability to launch attacks from wing-back.

Offaly's victory sets up a daunting Leinster semi-final clash with All-Ireland champions Dublin, who comfortably defeated Meath in their quarter-final on Sunday. The two Leinster semi-finals are set to take place at Croke Park on Sunday, April 28, with Kildare meeting Louth in the other last four game.

Scorers - Offaly: K O’Neill 1-3; D Hyland 0-5 (4 frees); J Hayes 1-0; J Bryant 0-3 (2f); L Pearson, R McNamee 0-1 each. Laois: S Fitzpatrick 1-0; E O’Carroll 0-3 (2f); K Roche (2f), M Barry (2f) 0-2 each; E Buggie 0-1.

Offaly: Ian Duffy; David Dempsey, Declan Hogan, Lee Pearson; Cormac Egan, Peter Cunningham, John Furlong; Eoin Carroll, Jack McEvoy; Dylan Hyland, Ruairí McNamee, Jordan Hayes; Keith O’Neill, Nathan Poland, Jack Bryant. Subs used: Cathal Flynn for Bryant (49 mins), Cian Farrell for Hyland (58), Jack O’Brien for McEvoy (61), Rory Egan for McNamee (64), Daire McDaid for Pearson (65).

Laois: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Seamus Lacey, James Kelly; Eoin Buggie, Mark Timmons, Jack Lacey; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; Kevin Swayne, Eoin Lowry, Shaun Fitzpatrick; Mark Barry, Evan O’Carroll, Paul Kingston. Subs used: Conor Heffernan for Larkin (injured, 11 mins), Daniel O’Reilly for Lillis (50), Dylan Kavanagh for Dempsey (50), Niall Dunne for Kingston (55), Simon Fingleton for Timmons (65).

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).