Laois beaten in O’Byrne Cup opener by Offaly

Justin McNulty’s first game in his second stint as Laois manager hasn’t got off to the best start as they lost out to Offaly in the opening round of the O’Byrne Cup.

Laois were on top for the majority of the contest with the final quarter of an hour deciding the contest in Stradbally this evening.

Offaly 1-11

Laois 0-12

It was Laois’ neighbours who opened the scoring as Dylan Hyland raised a white flag courtesy of a free within the first 60 seconds. Laois’ first point of the contest came with four minutes played as debutant Simon Fingleton slotted the ball over the black spot.

Laois doubled their lead soon after as Mark Barry opened his account with a free off his left-boot. Offaly levelled the game with a fine team score as Cathal Flynn passed to Cormac Egan before Egan teed up Jack Bryant to leave the score at two points apiece early on.

The next two scores went the way of McNulty’s side as Barry pointed for the second time while Brian Daly opened his account from a free after a foul on Fionn Holland. Offaly replied with a free of their own as Hyland pointed his second free after a slack pass from Ben Dempsey offered Offaly the chance to attack.

Daly was fouled for the next Laois score with the free brought up by Kieran Harris which allowed Barry to tap the ball over the bar. Bryant replied for Offaly with a free after a foul on Anton O’Sullivan.

The half ended with Laois ahead by two as another free was moved by the referee as Barry took his first-half tally to four points. Offaly were shown a black card late in the half with half-back John Furlong shown the card for giving back-chat to Harris. Laois ahead six points to four at the break.

Offaly started the second period the same way as the first as they scored the first point of the half straight from the throw-up. Nigel Dunne putting a single point between the sides. Laois replied with two points through the boots of Barry and Brian Byrne. Offaly responded with two scores of their own as Hyland pointed a free while Dunne got his second score since appearing as a substitute at half time.

Laois hit the front with three scores on the trot as Holland, Barry (free) and Paul Kingston (free) pushed Laois four points ahead.

The next score was a crucial one as Hyland rattled the back of Aaron Cooney’s net to get Offaly back into the game. The game was level soon after as Hyland took his tally to 1-4 for the Faithful County. Sean Fitzpatrick came off the bench to push Laois in front again as he pointed after Evan O’Carroll played a free short to the Ballyroan-Abbey forward.

That would be Laois’ last score of the contest as Offaly fired over three late scores to take the victory. Hyland, Nathan Poland and Declan Hogan sealing the victory for Declan Kelly’s side.

Laois now await to see who they’ll play in the O’Byrne Cup Shield with them playing the winner of Wicklow or Carlow.