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Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Laois Hurling Memory: 43 years of hurt ended with brilliant win over Offaly in 2015

Laois 0-29 Offaly 0-21
2015 Leinster SHC Quarter-final

More than any other county, the Laois hurlers have suffered disproportionately over the years at the hands of Offaly.

The goal that wasn’t in 1981, losing after a replay when the Faithful were All Ireland champions in 1982, the 1985 Leinster final, a big beating in 1996 and a narrow loss in 1997.

There was also hugely disappointing days in 2004 in Tullamore and in 2006 in a deluge in Portlaoise.

But in 2015, Laois, under Cheddar Plunkett’s management pulled off a thrilling win in O’Moore Park, a win that had been coming for some years.

It was Laois’s first win over Offaly in championship hurling in 43 years.

Laois came back from a four point in arrears after 24 minutes to finish with eight points to spare.

Zane Keenan proved to be the main man for Cheddar Plunkett’s side that day with 11 points while Willie Hyland got seven and Cha Dwyer hit five.

Shane Dooley kept his side in touch with 10 points but Laois had that extra edge following the first quarter.

Clough-Ballacolla man Willie Hyland got Laois off the mark his first point from play after three minutes, before Dooley equalised.

In the opening 11 minutes, the sides were evel on three occasions.

Offaly began to pull away through scores from Dooley and Brian Carroll and went 0-6 to 0-3 ahead after 15 minutes,

They increased this difference to one as they stretched the lead to 0-10 to 0-6 after 24 minutes.

However the O’Moore men stood up to their visitors launched a stirring comeback to completely flip this game around.

Keenan poised himself with four points, while Dwyer cut the deficit to a single point in the 29th minute.

Emmet Nolan, Offaly, in action against John A Delaney, Laois.

Keenan, Hyland and Dwyer were all on target as Laois took hold of the game as Laois went in four points up – 0-14 to 0-10 – at the break.

Dooley cut Laois’s lead to three with his sixth score of the game 90 seconds after the restart.

Despite this, Offaly would fail to register on the scoreboard until the 39th minute – while Laois added three points from Paddy Purcell, Keenan and Dwyer within this period.

Offaly responded and they then traded traded points on four occasions between the 42nd and 49th minutes.

John A Delaney, Laois, in action against Brian Carroll, Offaly

Following this, Hyland and Dwane Palmer helped Laois move 0-23 to 0-16 in front.

Referee James Owens awarded Offaly a controversial penalty, after Cahir Healy was thought to have committed a foul inside the box.

However after consulting with his umpires, the Wexford man reversed his decision and instead threw in the ball.

This was a saving grace for Laois but they still continued to look the better team. They eventually outscored the Offaly to set up a semi-final meeting with Galway, one Laois unfortunately went down badly in before losing to Limerick in the Qualifiers.

Laois’s Willie Hyland celebrates after the game
Laois’s Cahir Healy celebrates after the game
Laois’s Charles Dwyer celebrates after the game.

SCORERS – Laois: Zane Keenan 0-11 (0-6 frees, 0-1 sideline, 0-1 65′), Willie Hyland 0-7, Charles Dwyer 0-5, Paddy Purcell 0-2, Stephen Maher 0-2, Tommy Fitzgerald 0-1, Dwane Palmer 0-1, PJ Scully 0-1 Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-10 (0-9 frees, 0-1 65’s), Dan Currams 0-4, Brian Carroll 0-3, Joe Bergin 0-1, David King 0-1, Emmet Nolan 0-1, Cillian Kiely 0-1,

LAOIS: Eoin Reilly; Brian Stapleton, Matthew Whelan, Cahir Healy; Joe Fitzpatrick, John A Delaney, Tom Delaney; Joe Campion, Paddy Purcell; Willie Hyland, Zane Keenan, Dwane Palmer; Cha Dwyer, Tommy Fitzgerald, Stephen Maher. Subs: Paddy Whelan for P Purcell (64 mins), James Walsh for D Palmer (70 mins), PJ Scully for S Maher (70 mins), Ben Conroy for T Fitzgerald (71 mins).

OFFALY: James Dempsey; David King, Dermot Shortt, Niall Wynne; Cathal Parlon, Colin Egan, Pat Camon; Sean Ryan, Emmet Nolan; Paddy Murphy, Dan Currams, Joe Bergin; Shane Dooley, James Mulrooney, Brian Carroll. Subs: Cillian Kiely for Ryan (half-time); Eanna Murphy for Parlon (41 mins), Sean Cleary for J Mulrooney (44 mins), Stephen Wynne for King (60 mins).

REFEREE: James Owens (Wexford)

SEE ALSO – Check out more Laois hurling memories here

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/06/10/laois-hurling-memory-43-years-of-hurt-ended-with-brilliant-win-over-offaly-in-2015/

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