Month: September 2021

“IF I WAS being realistic,” says Dessie Hutchinson, “I probably thought my chances of being involved in games like this were gone.”

It’s Monday afternoon, the beginning of Hutchinson’s first championship week as a senior inter-county GAA player. When the subject of Waterford’s Munster SFC quarter-final against Clare is broached, he’s unable to suppress his grin as he pours himself a cup of tea in a quiet corner of the bar in the Viking Hotel.  

Bournemouth’s Jordon Ibe under pressure from Dessie Hutchinson of Brighton & Hove Albion.

Source: Steven Paston

“I used to always tell Dylan Barnett, one of the lads I lived with over in England, that I’d love to go back and play GAA again. Even though I was giving my all to make a career in professional soccer, the urge to play for Waterford never went away.”

Hutchinson’s involvement with the Waterford football panel for tonight’s game in Ennis comes just shy of a year since his time on the books at a Premier League club concluded. After five seasons with Brighton & Hove Albion, he was released in May 2018.

The irony of being discarded at that juncture was that his final season had produced the most tangible signs of progress. In addition to captaining the club’s U23 side and receiving his first Ireland U21 call-up, the midfielder impressed in his first-team debut as Brighton suffered a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Bournemouth in the League Cup.

But in January of last year, his cause was hampered by the collapse of a loan move to Scottish side St Mirren due to the two clubs failing to reach an agreement over his salary. That was followed by an ill-timed two-month injury absence, which denied him the opportunity to make his case for an extension when his contract was about to expire.

After the disappointment of leaving a club he joined at 16, Hutchinson moved home to begin his bid to salvage his career. He helped Waterford FC to achieve a top-four finish, but by the time the season drew to a close, his relationship with soccer had changed.

The Hutchinson name is synonymous with GAA in Waterford. The origins of Dessie’s obsession with sport can be traced back to his early childhood, when he first donned the red and black hoops of Ballygunner, aiming to emulate his brothers Wayne and JJ.

When he initially returned from Brighton last year, there remained a determination to defy the setback by becoming the latest player to use the League of Ireland as a springboard for a move back to the UK. However, the magnetism of his first sporting love was difficult to resist. 

Wayne and JJ Hutchinson celebrate after Ballygunner’s win against De La Salle in the 2017 Waterford SHC final.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

“I kind of just fell out of love with soccer after last year, especially being back from England. It just didn’t feel the same when I came home,” the 22-year-old explains.

“I had worked really hard for five seasons, but then it all seemed to fall apart in the space of two months. After getting my debut, I felt like the breakthrough was finally there. Then in January the loan move didn’t happen, I got injured and that was it, basically. You hear a lot about how football is a ruthless business, and I suppose I found that out myself then.

“After coming home to play in the League of Ireland for Waterford, Alan Reynolds [manager] was keen to keep me on this year, but I had to be honest with him. I didn’t want to end up playing just for the sake of it. It wouldn’t have been right to go in and go through the motions.

“I have great time for him and he’s doing a fantastic job at Waterford, but my heart just wasn’t in it. If I continued playing for him while feeling like that, it wouldn’t have been fair to me or him.”

Late last year, Hutchinson dug his helmet out from the back of the closet, wrapped a fresh grip around his hurley and joined up with the Ballygunner senior panel for training as they prepared for another Munster Club Championship campaign after winning their fifth county title in a row. 

As a dual player, Hutchinson also represents Gaultier. He was the match winner on his championship debut for the club last month, scoring 0-3 — including a decisive late free — in a 1-5 to 1-4 win against An Rinn. By then, Waterford senior football manager Benji Whelan had already handed him his senior inter-county debut in a National League win over Antrim.  

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“When I was growing up, all I thought about was winning county titles with Ballygunner and playing for Waterford in Croke Park. I played for Waterford until U16 level before going away to England,” says Hutchinson, who was previously a team-mate of current Waterford senior hurlers such as Shane Bennett and Patrick Curran.

Dessie Hutchinson in possession for Waterford against Shamrock Rovers.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“All my family and the friends I hang around with are big GAA people, so it was hard to stay away from it. When the soccer season ended, I was training away with Ballygunner and it felt really good to be back at it.

“Ballygunner won their fifth county title in a row there last year. It’s unreal to see the lads winning them but I was also wishing I was part of it. It was wicked hard, especially when there’s such a strong connection.

“The level of professionalism that they have really surprised me when I came back. Even though it’s an amateur sport, it’s a professional environment in the dressing room, which I was used to from being away. But it’s so much more as well.

“You have to do your own bit for yourself, but you’re doing it for the fella beside you too. When you’re playing soccer in England, sometimes it feels like you’re competing against the fella next to you, even though you’re on the same team. People were always mainly looking out for themselves. In the GAA it’s very different.

“With soccer, you could also never really get away from the worry about whether you were doing enough to be kept on and to get a new contract. In GAA, whether it’s club or county, you’ll be in the team if you’re performing well enough. It’s as simple as that.

“It felt like there was a lot more politics involved in soccer. A certain fella might have to play a certain amount of games for one reason or another, and then you might be the one to miss out because of that. I suppose things are different when money is brought into it. In the GAA, put in the work and you’ll be rewarded for it. That’s a breath of fresh air for me.

“A lot of lads come back home after being with clubs in England, and it’s tough, but I consider myself one of the lucky ones. Most fellas seem to have nothing at all to come home to. It might not be a job, but I don’t know what way I’d be now without hurling and Gaelic football.”

Front and centre, nine-year-old Dessie Hutchinson on mascot duty for Ballygunner in December 2005.

Source: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

Now that sport is no longer a viable career path, Hutchinson is weighing up his options for third-level education. Teaching and sports science courses have piqued his interest. With the support of the Gaelic Players’ Association helping to ease the transition during a period of professional uncertainty, he’s optimistic about what the future has in store. 

“While I do wonder what I could have experienced with the GAA over the last few years, I have no regrets about going away to England. An opportunity like that is very hard to turn down and I took a huge amount from it,” Hutchinson says.

“You can never say what’s going to happen down the line, but for the moment I’m not looking at going back to soccer at all. All my focus right now is on football with Waterford, football with Gaultier and hurling with Ballygunner.

“Hurling probably is my number one, but I’m loving being involved with the Waterford footballers. Benji [Whelan] is building something good and he’s getting people interested in Waterford football, which doesn’t get the credit it deserves at all. I’ll be giving it everything I have for him.

“I’m back to doing what I love most, which is being around the people closest to me and playing the games that I’ve always enjoyed since I was a kid. I don’t care how much money I have or what other people think as long as I’m doing the things that make me happy.

“I want to live the kind of life that a normal 22-year-old should be living. Trying to sort out work and stuff like that is tough, don’t get me wrong, but for the moment I’m just so happy to be back playing hurling and Gaelic football.

“It feels good to be in control of my own life and that’s the way I want things to stay.” 

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IT WAS A decision she had to think a lot about, but one she couldn’t turn down in the end.

Triple threat: Orla O’Dwyer.

Source: Inpho/Crosscoders.

When a professional contract in the Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] came her way, Tipperary dual star Orla O’Dwyer just couldn’t say no. It was something she never thought would happen. Especially given the fact that she had just applied for a trial camp.

CrossCoders — the programme that’s brought several Irish athletes to the league Down Under — are running a camp on these shores next weekend, with scouts from clubs set to be present as they look to add to their stock.

And that’s what 20-year-old O’Dwyer was signing up for originally.

As part of the programme though, player profiles where clubs can access video footage and data are set up, and the ball starts rolling immediately.

“Obviously from seeing how successful the girls were last year, I was interested,” O’Dwyer, who officially signed for Brisbane Lions yesterday, told The42.

“I submitted my statement of interest at the start of the year to CrossCoders. The weekend’s going on but I was lucky enough to get approached before that. A few clubs got in contact with me and I had several interviews.

“It was obviously a big decision. In the end, I just went with Brisbane. I thought that Craig [Starcevich, coach] and Bree [Brockwere, women’s CEO] very supportive.

“Even the way he knew my style of play and what he wanted me to do. He was just very interested in the way I play.”

There was plenty of interest in the ladies football and camogie star from the get-go further afield.

She remembers finding out that there was initial interest and approaches not long after she applied.

“I was definitely shocked,” she smiles.

“I remember I was on the way home from something in Dublin and I got a message from Jason [Hill, co-founder of CrossCoders] saying, ‘Can you provide some video clips of you just kicking around because there’s already some clubs interested’.

Striking the sliotar in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last summer.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

“I was like, ‘Oh God, it’s happening so fast’. I got onto that straight away, I was really enthusiastic.”

As interest heightened, the opportunities came thicker and faster and Hill himself can most definitely vouch for her enthusiasm on that front.

“With Orla, the one thing that came through the interviews she had with clubs… everyone goes, ‘I love her,’” Hill enthuses.

“She has this X-Factor about her that no one can quite put their finger on what it is, but there’s something about the way she talks and the way she holds herself that everyone’s excited about how that comes out in sport.

“These are the exciting things that I just can’t wait to see.”

Of course, before saying yes to Brisbane, O’Dwyer spoke to friends and family, and even to young Dublin footballer James Madden who’s currently plying his trade with the Lions.

She got advice from some of her fellow ladies footballers who flew the flag so high in the 2019 AFLW season, and went from there.

“They were very excited as well,” she recalls. “I just had more of a love towards the Brisbane Lions over the other clubs.

“Obviously it’s not just playing the football out there, you have to live there and have your life out there. I went for Brisbane in the end and I’m very happy with my decision.

“I’m really looking forward to going now — at such a young age as well.”

She’s currently finishing her second year of a PE and Irish teaching degree in University of Limerick [UL] and O’Dwyer admits that that was a big factor of her uncertainty.

“I didn’t know about college, to leave or to wait until after. I decided sure I don’t know what I’m going to be at in two years’ time. Even last year, I missed all of college sport because I was out injured. You never know what might happen in two years time.

Brisbane announced their first-ever Irish AFLW recruit yesterday.

Source: Brisbane Lions Twitter.

“While it’s [AFLW] growing so big now with the expansion and four new teams, I was like, ‘I’ll definitely grab it and go for it’. 

“UL have been very supportive as well in the last while, congratulating me. I’ve decided that I’ll take a year out and I can go back to it then after Australia.

“I don’t regret the decision. I’ll take the leave of absence and take it from there. It’s the chance of a lifetime and not something that comes around every day.

“I’m hoping my experience out there — there’s personal growth — I can bring that back to the classroom. For me to have the opportunity to experience playing professional is fantastic.” 

Born in Sydney and now with Australian citizenship, O’Dwyer’s parents spent four years there after getting married. A year after their daughter was born, the family moved back home so she, understandably, has no memories of the Land Down Under.

Likewise, she has never played Aussie Rules.

“It’s completely new to me,” she grins, explaining that as well as the Gaelic football and camogie, of course, she played soccer and basketball in school, and did athletics as well.

A bit of Cross Country, some sprinting but it’s been basically just the two the past few years.

“I got the Sherrin there for Christmas, my Mam got me a ball because she knew I was interested. I’m trying to kick away there at home. 

“I can see a lot of similarities between the two [Gaelic football and Aussie Rules] and there’s obviously something that the AFL clubs are seeing as well. The Irish players are being professional over there so they’re looking towards Irish players.

“I have no doubt that in a few weeks, well, after the camp, that there will be a few more Irish Gaelic footballers and camogie players being brought out and getting offered contracts, especially with the expansion of the game — it’s getting huge.

Facing Armagh’s Caroline O’Hanlon in last year’s league.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“It’s definitely great to have that experience here to go out.”

She’s watched from afar over the past season and more. Mayo duo Sarah Rowe and Cora Staunton, Donegal’s Yvonne Bonner, Clare’s Ailish Considine; they all flew the flag with distinction through the 2019 season. 

But she kept a closer eye on someone else in particular. Her Tipperary team-mate Aisling McCarthy.

“It’s great knowing people over there because you have someone to follow then,” she explains. “I was talking to Aish there, she’s back in the Tipp football set-up now and she’s looking forward to going back there next year and having another successful year, hopefully.

“She’s looking forward to getting back to the football as well after having such a break from it. She felt real hungry going back.

“It’s great the way it’s set up that the AFL finals were the end of March last year… I don’t know if it’s later this year, but then you’ve a few weeks and you’re straight into your county championship. It’s great to have that opportunity to be able to do the two of them as well.”

She’s an expert at switching between codes as is, balancing senior-inter county commitments across both football and small ball games — and doing so excellently.

O’Dwyer has been at the centre of several dual debates and clashes through the years, but carries on giving 100% to — and clearly loving both — and excel at that.

After a lull between league and championship and recovering from injury, she’s ready for the madness once again. And that starts today. The Premier open their Munster intermediate football championship campaign against Limerick at 5pm in Thurles, while the camogie side face Waterford at The Ragg at 7.15pm.

“We have a big championship season ahead of us,” she smiles, giving a run-down of the fixtures in her head. She thought that the camogie was on the Sunday at the time of our conversation. All must be under control though.

“I’m glad that it’s all thought through, that I got the contract and now it’s all parked so I can focus on camogie and football until the end of the summer.

With UL team-mate Roisin Howard.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“I think that’s great the way it works like that. Obviously I’ll be working away with the AFL, kicking, the club sent me on a few videos to get my skill up.

“The big focus at the minute is just championship and trying to get Tipp to Croke Park again in both codes. That’s the goals. And win Munster as well, so hopefully!”

She’s said it before, she’ll say it again: she absolutely loves them both. And however profound that love was before the injury, it’s increased tenfold now after her return.

“I haven’t really been playing proper matches with camogie, I’ve played the last few football ones,” she explains. “Back training now, I love being back.

“The biggest thing about being out injured was my patience was tested. I’m obviously not allowed to train or anything like that, so it’s great to be back.

“Especially back for championship season. That’s what all the girls love the most — being out training in the summery days when the weather is nice. We all aspire to go out and win and hopefully Tipperary go far this year in the two of them.”

Hopefully, indeed. 

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And hopefully she’ll go far in Australia come pre-season in October, and the fourth edition of the league kicking off in January 2020.

Hill, who keeps a close eye on the Gaelic games scene, most definitely thinks so.

Celebrating the 2017 All-Ireland intermediate final win.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“For someone like Orla who’s clearly a multi-talented athlete already in two sports, to pick up a third I don’t think it’s going to be much of a stretch for someone like that,” he smiles.

“I remember thinking, ‘God!’ when [year one CrossCoders] Ailish, Aish [McCarthy] and Yvonne [Bonner] were suiting up for round one, getting nervous for them saying, ‘I can’t wait to see how they go’.

“I’m getting that feeling all over again — this little bit of unknown, this little bit of X-Factor and the fact that there’s now an expectation on us to deliver. It’s not just, ‘Hey, let’s see how they go, this is a cool experiment’.

“It’s going, ‘Right, who’s the next one that’s going to deliver to the level of Sarah Rowe, of Yvonne Bonner?’” he concludes.

“Ireland can deliver world-class female athletes. There’s not many countries around the world that can say they’re delivering an abundance of that level of highly-talented sportswomen who are taking an opportunity like this and going and turning it into a success like these girls have.”

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LAST JULY, CONOR Cox took his place alongside his father Martin in O’Moore Park for Roscommon’s round 4 qualifier tie against Armagh. 

Martin hails from the Éire Og club in Roscommon and Conor, his Kerry-born son, has been a regular spectator at their championship games over the years. 

“He’s a big Rossie fan,” Cox told The42. ”When I’d be free during the summer he’d always be onto me to go to the championship matches and I’ve been to a good few with him.”

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Players compete for possession during the Armagh v Roscommon 2018 qualifier clash.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

It turned out to be one of the games of the championship. Roscommon edged a high-scoring affair that finished 2-22 to 1-19, which sealed their place in the inaugural Super 8s.

On a baking afternoon in Portlaoise, it was a game that demonstrated everything good the inter-county game had to offer.

As it turns out, it wasn’t a bad advertisement for the Roscommon footballers either. When the invitation came from new manager Anthony Cunningham over the winter to join the county set-up, the free-flowing nature of their attack was still fresh on Cox’s mind. He had little hesitation in saying, ‘Yes.’

“When it came about, I got a call off Anthony and I was absolutely delighted to get it,” he explains. “Over the moon. 

“I was watching against Armagh last year and it was a great game. I couldn’t get over the skill level and I think it was about 35 degrees the same day.

“The way Roscommon moved the ball that day it was very inspiring from a football lover’s point of view. There was no negativity it was just gung-ho and there were some great scores kicked that day and it was just a great game of football to watch really.

“Armagh contributed to it hugely and it was a serious game. When Anthony did call, thinking of Roscommon playing that brand of football it was an easy decision really to make.”

Conor Cox goes past Niall Morgan during this year’s league.

Source: Evan Logan/INPHO

Cox quickly became a regular in attack under Cunningham, posting 1-25 across the six Division 1 games he played this spring. 

“Roscommon have no shortage of top class forwards, the likes of Cathal Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh, Donie Smith, Enda Smith, the list is endless really. I might have been top scorer a few days but there’s certainly top class forwards in Roscommon so they’re not dependent on one person.”

Roscommon face Leitrim in Sunday’s Connacht SFC quarter-final in a game and he’s named to start at full-forward. Cox, 25, is set to make his senior inter-county championship debut.

It will be a proud moment for his parents to watch their son don the primrose and blue. 

Cox’s father met his mother Anne, a native of Kerry, in New York after both had emigrated in the 1980s. 

“Dad would have played with Eire Og. They would have been a relatively new club founded when he was growing up.

“When the recession hit then he had to go to America so he met my mom over there then. Football took a back-step when you’re over in New York. 

“Mom’s originally from Moyvane so she would have gone out to New York too during the recession. She’s mad into her football too.

“She was thrilled when Anthony called to give me the opportunity to train with Roscommon first. The way things moved along so quickly she’s delighted going up and down to the games.” 

He grew up in Kerry, showing initial promise with the local Listowel Emmets club. Cox represented the Kingdom the whole way through the underage ranks and the signposts indicated that he was set for a breakthrough at senior level. But it never transpired. 

He didn’t start a game with Kerry minors – making just one substitute appearance – but was the first-choice full-forward for two years with the Kingdom U21s. 

Cox celebrates a score against Cork in the Munster U21 quarter-final of 2013.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

He scored 1-21 across his four U21 appearances in 2012 and 2013, playing alongside several future seniors like Mark Griffin, Stephen O’Brien, Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley and Jack Sherwood.

It was at university level where Cox really shone. He became a key figure in the UCC team that contended for Sigerson Cups earlier this decade under the guidance of Billy Morgan.

Cox played in three finals, winning the competition in 2014. The UCC full-forward line that year had a terrifying look to it: Paul Geaney, Cox, Michael Quinlivan.

Geaney and Quinlivan would go on to win All-Stars but it was Cox who top-scored with six points in the win over UUJ.

“I don’t know about standing out,” he says, “there were so many top quality players in that team. It’s funny, myself and Niall Daly we always talk about it. That was my first year at Sigerson and it was his last year so I would have got to know him that year.

“I played with other players, Conor Sweeney, Peter Acheson, Michael Quinlivan, Paul Geaney – we had top class players down there.

“Funnily enough we were actually written off big time in that final. We were playing UUJ in Queen’s and I don’t think anybody gave us a chance.

“But we were quietly confident ourselves, I suppose Billy Morgan…if he’s over a team, every team has a chance to matter who they’re playing.”

The Ulster side were hot-favourites heading into the decider, boasting a team that included future stars Rory Beggan, Chrissy McKaigue, Colin Walshe, Killian Clarke, Mattie Donnelly, Kieran Hughes, Ronan O’Neill, Jamie Clarke and Connor McAlliskey.

But UCC edged through a tight finale by 0-10 to 0-9 after Cork man Conor Dorman popped up with an injury-time winner.

In his last year at Sigerson level in 2015, Cox scored three points in the extra-time final loss to DCU. Following the game, Billy Morgan indicated his surprise that the young forward hadn’t been given a proper chance with Kerry seniors under Eamonn Fitzmaurice. 

“I think he is an out-and-out class player,” said Morgan. “I expected him to be on the Kerry (championship) panel last year. It beats me why he wasn’t.

“I am sure after today, like he was outstanding for us. He has been outstanding for us all this season and they’ll have to take note.”

Cox is full of praise for the influence Cork legend Morgan had on his career.

“The thing about Billy is he lets the players drive it and he goes in at the back of it too. He’s very positive too and he’d have had a big influence on my career.

“It’s funny, I was actually chatting to him a few weeks ago and he was telling me he’s still following my progress and all that. Billy’s great, he’s a very nice fella.”

Billy Morgan, Cox and David Culhane celebrate UCC’s Sigerson Cup win in 2014.

Source: Presseye/Russell Pritchard/INPHO

Standing at 6ft, Cox is a powerful inside forward and accurate shooter. He won three All-Ireland junior titles with Kerry (2012, ’15 and ’17) and scored 1-18 across the finals against Mayo (twice) and Meath. 

In the 2017 decider against the Royals, the Kerry full-forward line consisted of Cox, Spillane and Tomás Ó Sé. The latter pair are currently part of Peter Keane’s senior panel. 

The senior appearances were few and far between for Cox. He played in seven Allianz Football League games over a span of four years (two in 2013, three in 2014 and two in 2016).

He started the Division 1 round 2 win over Derry in 2014, posting seven points. Cox followed up that performance with a four-point haul against Mayo a week later, but instead of propelling him up the pecking order, it would be his last appearance for two years.

He spent that summer in the States, while Kerry went on to win a shock All-Ireland title in September.

Cox’s final game for the Kingdom came against Roscommon, incidentally, in the league three years ago, where he scored a point. Despite starting just three times, he contributed 0-13 in his senior career in the green and gold.

With opportunities difficult to come by under Fitzmaurice, did Cox ever question his ability to make it as an inter-county footballer? 

“The thing about it really is that in Kerry it’s very competitive down there and that’s just with club football too,” he reflects.

“The thing I like most about football is the competitiveness of it. I’ll be representing Feale Rangers in the county championship and every game you play with them is competitive.

“I played a few senior games (with Kerry) alright. I’d know all the lads, I’d be friendly with them. I suppose with what has happened, there’s no hard feelings or anything. I’m still friends with them and all that.

“I played underage with Kerry and a few league games too but I’m just enjoying the present now at the minute and looking forward to the future other than looking back at it. 

Cox takes on Ger Cafferkey during a Division 1 clash against Mayo in 2014.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“I’m really enjoying football at the minute up here and I’m looking forward to this year and a few years of it left hopefully.”

Before Cox could switch allegiances to Roscommon, a messy transfer process took place. He admits it would have run a lot smoother had it not been for a “lack of research” on his own part. 

He initially transferred from Listowel to Éire Óg but the ‘Seanie Johnston rule’ meant that for him to be elgibile to play for Roscommon he’d need to have played a championship game with his new club first. With the local championship not beginning until August, that would have ruled him out for virtually the entire campaign.

St Judes also sounded him out over a potential move to Dublin, but Cox would eventually discover that the parentage rule meant he was already qualified to play for Roscommon.

“I initially had got a transfer to Éire Óg but it was just unfortunate their club championship fell in August time which was probably a bit late in the year for Anthony and the management if they wanted to have a right look at me,” he said.

“I was speaking to the St Judes manager and he was very understanding of the situation because I was based in Dublin. But again, it was probably down to my own lack of research and lack of knowledge on the whole transfer thing.

“But it’s funny enough the way it happened, because if I was asked at the start of the year if I’d be happy to stay with Listowel Emmets I definitely would. I’m really enjoying football down there too at the minute. 

“So it just made a bit more sense to go back down to Listowel,” he continued. “From my own point of view I probably didn’t do enough research into the whole transfer saga.

“I was told after that if I stayed with Listowel I could have played with Roscommon under the parent rule anyway. Yerra, there’s no one to blame really for it. It is what it is.” 

Cox was Roscommon’s top scorer during the league.

Source: Evan Logan/INPHO

Roscommon were relegated to Division 2 in the spring but there were plenty of positives for Cunningham to glean in his first year in charge.

Cox hit four points in the defeat to his native county on 24 March and received some messages of support from his old team-mates following the game.

“The result was disappointing, that was the big thing about the day. I’d still be friends with all the Kerry lads there’s no hard feelings there or anything and actually a few of them texted me afterwards to wish me the best of luck – Peter Crowley and Paul Geaney,

“I’d have known them through UCC very well too. I’d be friends with them and it was just another game really but the result was disappointing from the Roscommon side of things.”

He’s enjoying working under Cunningham, who brought both the Galway hurlers and Garrycastle footballers to All-Ireland finals in the past.

“Anthony’s top class in fairness to him. He’s very knowledgeable. Not only with the football but with the hurling too. He’s very tactically aware and he’s driven. You can sense it by him, I’d say he’s not a good loser.

“He wants to make sure his teams are in the best shape going into the games both physically and mentally. I couldn’t say enough good things about him really to be honest, I’ve been very, very impressed by him. He’s top class.”

Roscommon boss Anthony Cunningham.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Roscommon face a potential showdown with league champions Mayo in the last four of the province. After falling flat in the Super 8s last year, Roscommon are hoping to take another step forward this summer. 

For Cox, entering his rookie championship campaign as a starter, his goal is simple.

“For myself personally, I haven’t made a championship appearance yet so the big thing for me now is to keep the head down over the next few weeks and continue working on the parts of my game that I need to work on and hopefully I make a championship panel during the year and hopefully Roscommon are successful, that’s the main thing really.

“It’s grand when you see a few scores to your name but I’ll work hard for the team and if the opportunities come I want to take them.” 

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THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS Dublin have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Electric Ireland Leinster MHC following a dramatic draw with Wexford.

Wexford rallied from eight points down to secure a share of the spoils, with AJ Redmond slotting over a late equalising point from a long-range free.

The 2-17 to 3-14 result sees Dublin progress to the last four of the competition as they look to keep their title defence on track.

The Dubs got off to a strong start, leading by 1-3 to 0-3 after 15 minutes with Brendan Scanlon grabbing the goal.

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Ben McSweeney hit their second goal before half-time to leave Dublin leading by eight points, and when Charlie Keher found the back of the net after the restart, they looked to be on course for a comfortable win.

But Wexford mustered an impressive response. Josh Shiel hit Wexford’s first goal with six minutes remaining to cut the gap to five points. David Cantwell followed that up with a second goal before Redmond’s late point left the game as a draw at the final whistle.

Source: Dublin GAA Twitter.

In Tier 2, Kildare clinched a six-point win over Westmeath, having led by seven at half-time despite the concession of two goals. They continued to keep their noses in front after the restart to seal the win.

Meanwhile Laois made it three wins from three with a 24-point victory over Antrim to send them through to the knockout stage of the competition alongside Carlow who comfortably overcame Down in their Tier 3 encounter.

Adam Kirwan top-scored for Laois with 1-5 as they registered a 6-20 to 1-14 win.

Source: Carlow GAA Twitter.

Carlow dominated their encounter with Down and had built up a 2-11 to 0-1 point by half-time. They posted a further 4-9 in the second half to finish up as convincing winners.

Kilkenny and Offaly are also in action in the Leinster MHC and their Tier 1 clash is already underway.

Leinster MHC Results:

Wexford 2-17 Dublin 3-14

Westmeath 2-10 Kildare 1-19

Antrim 0-14 Laois 6-20

Down 0-5 Carlow 0-5

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THERE WERE BIZARRE scenes at Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon during Kilkenny’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship curtain-raiser against Dublin, as selector Greg Kennedy caught a TJ Reid free while on the pitch.

Kennedy, a former Galway hurler who was sent off in the 2001 All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny, successfully intercepted Reid’s quickly-taken free aimed at Colin Fennelly, who was unmarked close to goal.

The Loughrea clubman exited the pitch a few moments later after catching the ball as the free was re-taken shortly afterwards.

However Kennedy drew the ire of Kilkenny boss Brian Cody along the touchline for his interception of Reid’s free, with the pair remonstrating for a few moments outside their technical areas.

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In an effort to increase participation within the city the GAA are now allowing Dublin teams to play with an extra man…….#kilkenny #dublin #hurling #GAA pic.twitter.com/cWRxvq9YMV

— Niall McNamara (@NiallMc1983) May 11, 2019

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Kilkenny 2-23
Dublin 1-21

Kevin O’Brien reports from Nowlan Park 

THE 2018 SEASON had a lot to live up to, but the 2019 championship roared into life as Kilkenny turned a four-point half-time deficit into a five-point victory in the Leinster SHC opener this evening.

Tj Reid celebrates scoring his side’s first goal.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Facing a Kilkenny side missing a host of regulars, Dublin were fancied by many to claim victory here but it was the Cats who prevailed after dominating the second-half exchanges.

The hosts looked passive and second to breaking ball in the opening period but once Brian Cody got his hands on them they were a different animal after the restart.

They outscored Dublin by 2-11 to 0-8 in the second period as TJ Reid exerted his dominance over proceedings with an outstanding tally of 2-12.

This was a hot-blooded encounter that referee Cathal McAllister struggled to keep control of at times. It had everything. Three penalties, a plethora of goal chances, plenty of off-the-ball flashpoints and physical exchanges all over the field. 

Greg Kennedy’s first-half incursion onto the field was the first real controversy of the GAA summer. Shortly before half-time when the former Galway hurler, a selector with Dublin, was on the field after giving instructions to some defenders when Reid went short with a free.

Kennedy stuck out a hand and grasped the sliotar, denying Kilkenny a goalscoring opportunity. A retake was ordered and barring a talking to by the referee, Kennedy’s infraction went unpunished. He did, however, draw the wrath of Brian Cody as he left the field.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Kilkenny went into battle without Eoin Murphy, Cillian Buckley, James Maher, Conor Delaney and Rob Lennon. Mattie Kenny put Dublin’s injured brigade at seven-strong, including Cuala forward Mark Schutte who returned to the squad this year after his stint with the county footballers. 

From the start, Kenny dropped wing-forward Fergal Whitely back into midfield, which allowed one of the regular midfielders to sit into the centre-back slot and release Chris Crummey in front of his full-back line.

The Sky Blues got their match-ups right early on. Shane Barrett used all the dark arts to frustrate Reid in the first-half, while Sean Moran shut down Ballyhale Shamrocks debutant Adrian Mullen for the majority of the game.

A lively opening 35 minutes threw up a host of talking points. Rushe was a wrecking ball at full-forward, winning two penalties for Dublin. Moran drilled the first into the bottom corner and skied the second one over the bar. 

Dublin’s physicality on the half-back line saw them control the airwaves, with Walter Walsh the sole Cats attacker capable of winning his own ball early on.

Alan Murphy burst forward for three points from midfield but the Dublin attack was far slicker with Sutcliffe and Fergal Whitely contributing a brace apiece to leave them 1-13 to 0-12 in front at the interval.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Reid fired over three frees and then levelled the game with a goal after a wonderful one-two with clubmate Colin Fennelly. Kilkenny’s fighting spirit saw them ramp up the physicality.

Fennelly won a penalty after barrelling through Sean Moran and Alan Nolan, although he was dismayed advantage wasn’t played after finishing the rebound into the net.

Not to worry. Reid buried the penalty, while scores from Mullen and Richie Leahy left the Cats 2-19 to 1-17 clear. Leahy looked extremely dangerous after arriving off the bench and he doubled his tally as the Cats held firm in the closing stages. 

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 2-12 (1-0 pen, 0-11f, 0-1 65), Alan Murphy 0-3, Richie Leahy and Ger Aylward 0-2 each, Padraig Walsh, Adrian Mullen, Walter Walsh 0-1 each, 

Scorers for Dublin: Sean Moran 2-1 (1-1 pen, 0-1f), David Treacy 0-6 (0-6f), Danny Sutcliffe 0-4, Fergal Whitely and Chris Crummey 0-2 each, Sean Treacy, Darragh O’Connell, Tomas Connolly, Liam Rushe and Paul Ryan 0-1 each. 

Kilkenny

1. Darren Brennan (St Lachtain’s)

2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
4. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan)

5. Enda Morrissey (Bennettsbridge)
6. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)
7. Conor Fogarty (Erin’s Own)

8. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
9. Alan Murphy (Glenmore)

10. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
11. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
12. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

13. Billy Ryan (Graigue-Ballycalln)
14. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Ger Aylward (Glenmore)

Subs

20. Richie Leahy (Rower Inistioge) for Morrissey (ht)
21. Richie Hogan (Danesfort) for Ryan (40)

Dublin

1. Alan Nolan (St. Brigids)

9. Darragh O’Connell (Cuala)
3. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
2. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf)

7. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)
5. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)
6. Seán Moran (Cuala)

8. Seán Treacy (Cuala)
19. Tomas Connolly (St Vincent’s)

10. David Treacy (Cuala)
11. Danny Sutcliffe (St. Jude’s)
12. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes)

25. Paul Ryan (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
14. Liam Rushe (St. Patrick’s Palmerstown)
15. Eamon Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra)

Subs

21. Rian McBride (St Vincent’s) for Connolly (51)
22. Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Ryan (60)
23. Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh) for Sean Treacy (66)
20. Jake Malone (Cuala) for David Treacy (72) 
26. Ronan Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes) for Rushe (74)

Referee: Cathal McAllister.

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Limerick 3-11
Tipperary 1-10

Daragh Small reports from Semple Stadium

LIMERICK WON THEIR first Munster senior football game since 2012 as they advanced to a semi-final meeting with Cork.

Semple Stadium in Thurles was bathed in sunshine this evening and Billy Lee’s men fully deserved their shock win over Tipperary.

It was 0-8 to 0-8 at half-time but Limerick were the better team in the first half. Iain Corbett blasted the goal shortly afterwards and further goals from Cillian Fahy and Peter Nash cancelled out Michael Quinlivan’s strike.

It was the Division 4 outfit who made the confident and assured start and Adrian Enright followed up Jamie Lee’s opening free with a second point in the eighth minute.

Moments later former All-Star Quinlivan ghosted in behind the cover and fisted over Tipperary’s first score when he could have shot for goal. Shane O’Connell found himself in a similar position, however, his low drive nestled in the side-netting.

The teams were level for the first time after Conor Sweeney tapped over a free and referee James Molloy opted for Hawk-Eye before Steven O’Brien’s point was awarded and Tipperary held their first lead.

Captains Corbett and Sweeney traded scores before Enright doubled his tally and Lee popped over a rallying point. Tipperary wasted their chances Limerick made them pay.
McSweeney scored to put Limerick 0-6 to 0-4 in front before he registered their first wide in the 24th minute. Liam Casey and Lee kicked a point each and then Tipperary got back level.

Frees from Sweeney and Liam McGrath meant the sides were tied for the third time, until Fahy fisted another Limerick effort.

Quinlivan was as dangerous as ever and he scored again but blasted another shot wide to sum the first half from Tipperary’s point of view.

It was level at half-time and Corbett provided an inspirational point on the resumption, his next score was massive.

It took 11 minutes before either team would score again but when Darragh Treacy looked to running out of room, Corbett appeared on his shoulder and finished to the top corner.

Limerick were 1-9 to 0-8 and in dreamland and it got even better when Lee’s shot dropped in the danger zone and Fahy claimed the possession before he rifled the ball to the roof of the Tipperary net.

It was shock and awe and Tipperary didn’t score their first point of the second half until the 59th minute when Sweeney finally slotted a free. But Lee’s reply was another stunning score.

Fahy could have scored another goal when he instead opted for a point and Quinlivan’s persistence paid off with a brilliant placed finish for a Tipperary goal in the 64th minute.
A Liam McGrath pointed free came at the right time to leave just four between the sides. But Nash’s strike ended the comeback.

Scorers for Limerick: Iain Corbett, Cillian Fahy 1-2 each, Jamie Lee 0-4 (0-1f), Peter Nash 1-0, Adrian Enright 0-2, Sean McSweeney 0-1 (0-1f).

Scorers for Tipperary: Michael Quinlivan 1-2, Conor Sweeney 0-4 (0-3f), Liam McGrath 0-2 (0-2f), Steven O’Brien , Liam Casey 0-1 each.

Limerick

1. Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen)

2. Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen)
3. Sean O’Dea (Kilteely Dromkeen)
4. Paul Maher (Adare)

5. Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins)
6. Iain Corbett (Newcastlewest)
7. Gordon Brown (Na Piarsaigh)

8. Darragh Treacy (St Kieran’s)
9. Tommie Childs (Galtee Gaels)

10. Adrian Enright (Fr Caseys)
11. Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher Broadford)
12. Michael Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh/Castlemahon)

13. Sean McSweeney (St Kieran’s)
14. Seamus O’Carroll (Castleknock)
15. Jamie Lee (Newcastlewest)

Substitutes

22. Peter Nash (Kildimo Pallaskenry) for Lee (62)
21. Stephen Keeley (Adare) for Enright (70)
23. Pádraig De Brún (Firies) for Fitzgibbon (70)

Tipperary

1. Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)

2. Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers)
3. John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney)
4. Shane O’Connell (Golden-Kilfeacle)

5. Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials)
6. Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers)
7. Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)

8. Steven O’Brien (Ballina)
9. Liam Casey (Cahir)

10. Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle)
11. Paul Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
12. Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill)

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13. Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen)
14. Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials)
15. Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)

Substitutes

18. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Kiely (half-time)
22. Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Maher (half-time)
20. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) for Keane (49)
21. Daire Brennan (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Fahey (58)
23. Dan O’Meara (Kiladangan) for Fox (66)
17. Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule) for Meagher (72)

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Clare 0-9
Waterford 0-8

Declan Rooney reports from Cusack Park, Ennis

CLARE WILL FACE Kerry in the Munster senior football championship semi-final for the fourth year in a row after Eoin Cleary fired them to victory against Waterford at Cusack Park in Ennis.

This was far from straightforward for the Banner men, who had to fend off a Waterford comeback after the Déise county kicked six unanswered points in the second half.

With 12 minutes to go, Clare’s seven-point lead had been whittled down to two, and JJ Hutchinson put one between the teams in added-time, but Clare just about fell over the line.

With Waterford playing with a very tightly-packed defence, it was very had for the Clare players to pick out passes into their full-forward line, but after Cleary had kicked the opening two scores of the game from placed balls, he started to shine.

His point from the right after 14 minutes was brilliant when he brought a seemingly endless spell of Clare possession to an end with a bold attempt, and two minutes later he made it 0-4 to 0-0 when he scored off his left from the left sideline after an exchange of passes.

Waterford finally got off the mark when Shane Ahearne kicked a free for Brendan Whelan’s side, but Clare responded stylishly with a Cleary point from play, their sixth point from Jamie Malone — which was laid on by Cleary — and another Cleary free in the 23rd minute.

Conor Murray tagged on a great point from the right as Waterford began to come out of their shell a bit more, but Clare ended on a high when Gary Brennan and Gavin Cooney combined, before Dean Ryan pointed on the run to give his side a 0-8 to 0-2 lead at half-time.

Gary Brennan under pressure.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

An exchange of points after the break maintained Clare’s six-point lead before Murray pointed from the right again for Waterford, who continued to improve as the game progressed.

Tadhg Ó hUallacháin landed a great score after he took a big shoulder, and JJ Hutchinson added another score — Waterford’s fifth without reply — which put two points between the teams with 12 minutes remaining.

Hutchinson kicked his second point deep into added-time, but the clock beat Waterford in the end.

Scorers for Clare: E Cleary 0-6 (3f), J Malone 0-2, D Ryan 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: C Murray 0-2, D Hutchinson 0-2 (2f), JJ Hutchinson 0-2, S Ahearne 0-1 (1f), T Ó hUallacháin 0-1.

Clare:

1. Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)

4. Kevin Hartnett (Meelick)
3. Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
2. Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)

7. Dean Ryan (Na Fianna, Dublin)
6. Aaron Fitzgerald (Eire Og Ennis)
5. Sean Collins (Cratloe)

8. Gary Brennan (Clondegad) (captain)
17. Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels) 

10. Kieran Malone (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
11. Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
12. Jamie Malone (Corofin)

14. Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
15. Gavin Cooney (Eire Og Ennis)
13. Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)

Subs:

21. Gearoid O’Brien (Kilrush Shamrocks) for K Malone (half-time)
24. Conall Ó hAiniféin (Ruan) for Cooney (48)
22. Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen) for Bohannan (58, black)
20. Dale Masterson (St Breckans) for Murray (65)
25. Davy O’Halloran (Eire Og Ennis) for S Collins (72).

Waterford:

1. Darren Mulhearne (Kilrossanty)

4. James McGrath ( The Nire)
3. Ray O’Ceallaigh (An Rinn)
2. Sean O’Donovan (Modeligo)

7. Tadhg Ó hUallacháin (An Rinn)
6. Shane Ryan (The Nire)
5. Brian Looby (Ballinacourty) (captain)

8. Shane Aherne (Stradbally)
9. Tommy Prendergast (Kilrossanty)

12. Conor Murray (Rathgormack)
11. Dylan Guiry (The Nire)
10. Sean Whelan-Barrett (Ballinacourty)

13. Jack Mullaney (Stradbally)
14. Ferghal Ó Cuirrín (An Rinn)
15. Michael Curry (Rathgormack)

Subs:

19. Dessie Hutchinson (Gaultier) for Whelan-Barrett (35)
17. JJ Hutchinson (Gaultier) for Mullaney (48)
24. Donie Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty) for Ó Cuirrin (65)
18. Jason Curry (Rathgormack) for Guiry (68)
26. Billy O’Keeffe (Gaultier) for Ó hUallacháin (70)
20. Brian Lynch (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg) for Murray (74).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).

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Kildare 0-15
Wicklow 1-10

Robert Cribbin reports from Netwatch Cullen Park

A LATE NEIL Flynn free gave Kildare the breathing space they needed as they took a narrow win over a gallant Wicklow side in the Leinster SFC first round in Carlow.

It’s a game where Kildare will wonder how it got so close as they looked in a different league to their opponents in the first half with Kevin Feely in particular dominating but they proved ultra wasteful and only led by five points at the break.

That lead was extended to seven in the second half but a Darren Hayden goal in the 60th minute gave John Evans’s side a lifeline and with a little bit more composure they could have got something more out of the game.

The opening was tight with the teams level at 0-3 apiece after ten minutes but Kildare soon found their mojo with six points in a row as top scorer Adam Tyrrell kicked a couple of scores that were added to by Eoghan O’Flaherty, Paddy Brophy and Ben McCormack.

The team in white also missed a couple of goal chances with David Slattery and Brophy both denied.

Wicklow got a point back before the break but in the second period it looked as if normal service was resumed when Tyrrell, Fergal Conway and David Hyland scored to give Kildare a 0-13 to 0-6 buffer but they were only going through the motions really until Wicklow’s Dean Healy stuck in a goal with ten minutes remaining.

The goal gave Wicklow life and seemed to set Kildare back a bit and even though Patrick O’Connor kicked a point in the 62nd minute, a couple of missed chances proved fatal for them.

Kildare eventually refound something of their groove with a late Neil Flynn point but again Wicklow replied to get within two points.

Although there was four minutes of stoppage time Wicklow couldn’t find the goal they needed as Kildare advanced to a last eight provincial meeting with Longford in a fortnight’s time.

Scorers for Kildare: Adam Tyrrell 0-5 (0-4f) Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Ben McCormack 0-2, Neil Flynn (0-1f), David Hyland, Fergal Conway, Paddy Brophy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wicklow: Darren Hayden 1-0, Mark Kenny, Patrick O’Connor 0-2 each, Conor McGraynor (0-1f), Daniel Keane, Theo Smith, Padraig O’Toole, Mark Jackson (0-1f), Dean Healy 0-1 each.

Kildare

1. Mark Donnellan (Maynooth)

2. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield)
20. Mark Hyland (Athy)
4. David Hyland (Athy)

5. Peter Kelly (Two Mile House)
6. Eoin Doyle (Naas)
7. Keith Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)

8. Kevin Feely (Athy)
9. Fergal Conway (Celbridge)

10. David Slattery (Confey)
11. Ben McCormack (Sarsfields)
12. Eoghan O’Flaherty (Carbury)

13. Adam Tyrrell (Moorefield)
14. Paddy Brophy (Celbridge)
15. Jimmy Hyland (Ballyteague)

Subs

19. Cian O’Donoghue (Clane) for Cribbin (48)
18. Neil Flynn (Maynooth) for O’Flaherty (48)
21. Conor Hartley (Sarsfields) for McCormack (56)
17. Tommy Moolick (Leixlip) for Slattery (60)
22. Jason Gibbons (Kilcock) for Tyrrell( 68)

Wicklow

1. Mark Jackson (Baltinglass)

2. Eoin Murtagh (Dunlavin)
3. Ross O’Brien (Rathnew)
4. Jamie Snell (Rathnew)

5. David Devereux (Balinteer St John’s)
6. Shane Mooney (Newtown)
7. Darragh Fitzgerald (Na nGearaltaigh/ Baile Mhuine)

8. Dean Healy (St Patrick’s)
9. Padraig O’Toole (Kiltegan)

10. Darren Hayden (Éire Óg Greystones)
11. Anthony McLoughlin (Blessington)
12. Theo Smith (Rathnew)

13. Mark Kenny (Ballymanus)
22. Conor McGraynor (Avondale)
15. Patrick O’Connor (Blessington)

Subs

20. Cathal McGee (Bray Emmets) for McLoughlin (h-t)
14. Chris O’Brien (Na nGearaltaigh/Baile Mhuire for McGraynor (45)
17. Oisin Manning (St Jude’s) for Mooney (46)
18. Daniel Keane (Éire Óg Greystones) for Hayden (68)
19. Saoirse Kieron (Dunlavin) for O’Toole (70)

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)

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Laois 4-22
Offaly 3-21

Kevin Egan reports from Tullamore

FOUR YEARS AFTER beating Offaly in senior championship hurling for the first time in 43 years, Laois repeated the trick this evening in Tullamore, and just as it was in the league this year, the final margin was four points but could easily have been far more.

Wastefulness and a failure to convert territorial and possession dominance into scores almost proved fatal for the O’Moore county here but in the end they outlasted the Faithful County, despite coughing up a six-point lead midway through the second half.

Laois will look back on 17 wides, a number of missed goal chances and several other wasted chances and wonder how they left Offaly in the game so long, but they’ll be able to reflect on that in some comfort after a late Stephen Bergin goal gave them what could turn out to be a crucial victory.

In the first half they played with whatever breeze was in it while they also had the setting sun at their backs, but 11 of their wides came in that half as Offaly hung in there, largely through a first-half tally of 1-2 from Oisín Kelly.

Kelly was the only Offaly forward who consistently caused problems for the Laois defence in that time, while at the other end of the field all six starting Laois forwards scored from play.

Mark Kavanagh was also in superb form from frees, which made the level game at half time, 0-13 to 1-10, seem like a winning position for Offaly. Instead, Laois picked up steam after half time and soon took control through goals from Paddy Purcell and Charles Dwyer.

They briefly fell asleep however and Offaly roared back into the game, with goals from Kelly and Conor Mahon helping them to move a point in front after 63 minutes. However in a game that ebbed and flowed, the last tide of the day lapped in favour of the Laois men.

Ross King set up one point for Kavanagh and fired over another of his own, before Bergin pounced on a breaking ball and fired in from close range in the 69 th minute.

A series of lengthy injury stoppages meant that there was over ten minutes of added time still to play, but while Offaly sent in several high deliveries into the Laois square, Joe Phelan, Matthew Whelan and Ryan Mullaney all came up with heroic interventions to preserve a crucial win for Eddie Brennan’s side.

Scorers for Laois: Mark Kavanagh 0-11 (0-8f, 0-1 sideline), Charles Dwyer 1-3, Eanna Lyons, Paddy Purcell 1-1 each, Ross King 0-4, Stephen Bergin 1-0, Willie Dunphy, Conor Phelan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Offaly: Joe Bergin 0-11 (0-7f), Oisín Kelly 2-3, Conor Mahon 1-1, David O’Toole Greene, Colm Gath, Niall Houlihan, Colin Egan, Kevin Dunne, Conor Longton 0-1 each.

Laois

1. Enda Rowland

2. Donncha Hartnett
4. Joe Phelan
3. Matthew Whelan

9. Jack Kelly
6. Ryan Mullaney
7. Lee Cleere

8. John Lennon
5. Padraig Delaney

10. Charles Dwyer
11. Willie Dunphy
13. Mark Kavanagh

12. Paddy Purcell
14. Eanna Lyons
15. Ross King

Substitutes

20. Conor Phelan for Lennon (48)
22. Neil Foyle for Lyons (58)
21. Aaron Dunphy for Kelly (63)
25. Stephen Bergin for Dunphy (66)
17. Eric Killeen for J Phelan (70+8)

Offaly

1. Eoghan Cahill

4. Paddy Rigney
7. Ben Conneely
2. Tom Spain

5. Colm Gath
6. Pat Camon
3. Niall Houlihan

8. David O’Toole-Greene
9. Kevin Dunne

15. Cillian Kiely
13. Shane Dooley
12. Colin Egan

11. Conor Mahon
14. Joe Bergin
10. Oisín Kelly

Substitutes

20. Conor Langton for Kiely (58)
25. James Gorman for Dooley (66)
17. Dermot Shortt for O’Toole Greene (69)

Referee: Colum Canning (Antrim)

**********

The day’s other Joe McDonagh Cup game saw Antrim run out comfortable winners by 3-19 to 0-14 over Kerry.

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