'Our players died with their boots on'- Laois hurling manager Willie Maher

Willie Maher cut a despondent figure as he spoke to the media after Laois’ three-point loss to Offaly in Croke Park on Saturday.

Maher felt that the early scores that Offaly got at the start of each half left Laois climbing a mountain.

“The room was a bit sober, we’re very disappointed. We left 1-1 at the start of the first half and 1-1 at the second and we were climbing a hill from there. Our players died with their boots on, we really came into it. And congratulations to Offaly, they had a really good week and fair play to them,” he said.

When Offaly went ahead by seven points with 50 minutes on the clock, it looked like the game was going to fizzle out and Offaly would stroll to victory. That wasn’t to be the case however as Laois outscored Offaly eight points to one as they drew level after 66 minutes. Maher thought the momentum would get his Laois side over the line.

“Yeah, that’s the way it looked. I thought our fitness levels were excellent, I thought the few subs we brought on made an impact. When you go level, the mindset changes on the field which you can’t control. You’re chasing something, then you get to the top of the hill and it’s a case of what you do from there. We weren’t able to push ahead and I suppose that was our downfall today. But I’m unbelievably proud of the guys. They gave us everything, they have given us everything for the year and there’s no complaints from an effort perspective. Lads gave us everything they had,” Maher said.

One aspect of Laois’ game that failed them big time was their inaccuracy from the shots they were taking. Laois ended up firing 18 wides and also missed quite a few big goal opportunities.

“It’s real championship fare out there. The surface in Croke Park lends itself to a total hurling game. Offaly are a fine side and have competed unbelievably well. It steps up two or three notches when you get to a final in Croke Park, lads were out on their feet on both sides and still gave us everything. So yeah, 18 wides were a big drawback, but I think we missed a couple of big goal chances that we needed.

“It was probably a replica of the match we played earlier in the year as well. We came with momentum and got the goals, this time we had the momentum and didn’t get the goals, and Offaly were able to see it out. We’ll review it, we’ll have a look at it, but the initial emotion in our dressing room is that we’re devastated, we’re really disappointed and we’ve to pick ourselves up, but it’s not from lack of effort,” he said.

One major call that looked harsh on first viewing was when John Lennon looked to be heading towards goal but referee Colm McDonald gave a free against Lennon for over carrying. 

“You’d have to watch it a couple of times, I haven’t seen it on screen. I’m going full Arsene Wenger here saying I didn’t see it, but initially I didn’t think it was steps. It was the third minute of injury time when he broke through, I thought he was after being flicked or something and that he was after giving a free in. They’re the calls, I didn’t think it was a free, but I’d like to have a look at it again,” Maher said.

Laois’ midfield partnership of Paddy Purcell and Aidan Corby were two of Laois’ top performers on the day with them combining for nine points from play. Maher praised both men for an excellent performance both on Sunday and throughout the campaign.

“We started him (Paddy Purcell) centre forward and that was the idea of that, to see could we go at Offaly that way. Paddy is a brilliant player and we know that. It’d be nice to review it again, in real time you just see a score and it was such a brilliant game, 2-23 to 0-26. Paddy’s excellent and Aidan Corby’s playing really well all year as well. They all played their part,” he said.

Laois’ defence dealt pretty well with Offaly’s attack but it was the small margins that proved decisive in the end.

“The boys are playing well all year. The goal at the start and the goal after half-time, they were two sucker punches to take. We came back from them, but we weren’t able to get ahead,” Maher said.

Offaly crucially took their chances when they came with Laois left to rue the chances that they missed in the end. Maher says that’s their the moments that decide the big games.

“We haven’t been conceding goals all year. We conceded one goal prior to the Westmeath match and it was something that we were very proud of and worked on a lot. But Offaly are a fine side and were able to get in for goals, and goals win matches. Paddy’s one off the crossbar was at a vital stage of the match, James Duggan could have had a goal, he had half chances as well. They’re the moments in big games, and we’re unbelievably disappointed not to get over the line today,” he said.

Laois must now get back on track as they face into a preliminary quarter-final against Wexford in Portlaoise on Saturday. Maher touched on what happened to Offaly last year after they had lost the Joe McDonagh Cup final.

“Very difficult. We saw what happened to Offaly last year after losing here in an epic, so that’s testament to our management and players to get lads ready and get lads right and see if we can go at it next Saturday against Wexford in Portlaoise. It’s something that we’ll think about tomorrow and we’ll move it on. It’s a very difficult ask but there’s great character in this group and I’m sure we will regroup during the week and give it everything on Saturday,” Maher ended.