LEINSTER FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL
at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
Sunday 25th May 2003

ALL SQUARE AFTER PULSATING 70 MINUTES OF ACTION

Laois v Offaly

Report By Cóilín Duffy at O'Moore Park

 
Referee: Michael Collins (Cork) 

After a pulsating 70 minutes + of action in this local derby encounter Laois and Offaly must do it all again in the Leinster SFC after today's quarter-final played in front of the TV cameras live at O'Moore Park. Laois clawed their way back from a torrid first half display in which they trailed by double scores at the break to power back after half-time with a brilliant second half performance by Micko's charges saw them gain a one point lead in injury time but this was cancelled out when a pressure 45'm kick was slotted ovcr by Ciaran McManus who had a starring role for the Faithful side.

In the last two encounters in 2001 and 2002 Offaly had the upper hand on the O'Moore's and Laois had to go back to 1990 for their last win against the Faithful in the championship. One has to go back to 1975 for the last draw between the sides when the game finished Offaly 0-13 Laois 0-13. Only three draws had taken place between the sides before today's game

Laois were without the injuried Colm Parkinson and Ross Munnelly started in his position while Kevin Fitzpatrick moved into the forwards for today's game. The Offaly side showed changes from the match programme with Paudie Mulhare out due to a family berevement and replaced by James Grennan while Offaly minor Niall McNamee from Clara who was not even named on the match programme and took the number 30 shirt in place of veteran attacker Vinny Claffey.

Offaly were first to settle at the Laois venue and Colm Quinn shot wide after two minutes and a minute later another free by the Ballycumber ace hit off the post and th umpire awarded a 45' to Offaly. Ciaran McManus shooting the 45' wide. Offaly won a second 45' and McManus shot the first score of the day for the Faithful side. Shortly after Keelaghan fouled Laois' Joe Higgins for their first free of the day. Higgins sent the ball in which was gathered by Ger Rafferty but Laois won back the ball with Michael Lawlor getting around two Offaly defenders to level matters for the first time in the game.

In the 8th minute a sideline from Damien Delaney was palmed wide by Ian Fitzgerald as Laois pressed for scores. But Offaly shot back winning a free which Ciaran McManus sent into Offaly debutant Niall McNamee brother of midfielder Alan and the Offaly minor had no hesitation in slotting the ball over the bar. A Cathal Daly foul on Damien Delaney resulted in a free for Laois but the chance of pointing was spurned by Ross Munnelly who shot wide. Ross had no hesitation over a minute later when after a foul on the Arles/Kilcruise player by Karol Slattery saw Laois level matters with their second point after 13 1/2 minutes of action.

Laois went in front for the first time with another point again from a free. Michael Lawlor was fouled by Barry Mooney and the free was converted by Delaney. Offaly levelled matters through John Reynolds when he received a precision pass from Pascal Keelaghan to leave the score at 0-3  apiece midway through the half.

Offaly followed up with two more points from Reynolds and Keelaghan both from play in the eighteenth and nineteenth minutes. They had a chance of advancing for goal soon after but the in rushing Reynolds was stopped in his tracks with a powerful kick by Laois netminder Fergal Byron. Niall McNamee won the ball outfield but his shot was wide of the posts.

Darren Rooney was showen the second yellow card of the day after his foul on Colm Quinn and Quinn had no problem slotting the ball over the bar. Ross Munnelly won Byron's resulting kickout of the ball which was sent to Fitzgerald who made a quick pass to Munnelly who shot the ball off the post back to Fitzpatrick but Fitzpatrick could only send the ball into keeper Kevin Meehan's hands.

Offaly then what looked like a point both from those in attendance and the tv cameras but the Offaly defenders had no qualms and it was on with the action. Laois had a pointed free from Damien Delaney in the 26 minute and when Aiden Fennelly had a spirited point for Laois they were just a point in arrears.

But Offaly had a spirted answer to the Laois attack and in the thirty minute of action Ciaran McManus blasted a cracker of a shot  from 18 yards out straight to the back of the Laois net leaving Fergal Byron dumbfounded in the Laois goals a shot which he could just not stop. McManus leaving both defenders and goalie in their wake with what must be a contender for goal of the season even at this early stage. Joe Higgins will rue his mistake kicking the ball straight to the Offaly goalpoacher.

Laois made three more attacks in the closing stages of the half. A foul on Kevin Fitzpatrick saw Ian Fitzgerald pass to Beano who passed to Delaney back to Beano but shot was saved by Kevin Meehan.  John Reynolds pointed for Offaly to leave double scores between the sides with a fisted effort. Laois kicked two more advances on the Offaly goal wide and the half finished with a score of Offaly 1-07 Laois 0-5

HALF-TIME Offaly 1-07 Laois 0-05

Laois certainly had it all to play for in the second half and Micko's inspiring half-time pep talk must have made all the difference as Laois came ut a changed side in the second half with a top class performace. Derek Conroy and Damien Delaney were sidelined to the bench and Paul McDonald and Stephen Kelly were introduced before the start of the second half. Offaly also made a change with Mauris Stones in for John Kenny making it 3 Clara clubmen in action for Offaly in the 2nd half.

Laois opened the action with the first attack of the half and Michael Lawlor won a free which he kicked wide. Another attack from Laois saw Tom Kelly fouled. Ross Munnelly sent over the free for the first point of the half. Ian Fitzgerald then had to leave the action after an injury forced him to retire with Annanough's Donal Miller coming into the action. Pauric Clancy received a yellow card for an off the ball incident. Pascal Keelaghan shot wide for Offaly as did both Mauris Stones and Niall McNamee Beano added a point for Laois. Another from Beano was shot wide before Ross Munnelly added his third point of the day. Laois were truely back to form at this stage and Michael Lawlor followed this up with an excellent point one minute after Munnelly's shot.  Munnelly was then grounded by Cathal Daly in the 13th minute resulting in a Yellow Card for the Garda. The resulting free pointed by half-time substitute Stephen Kelly levelled matters at Laois 0-10 Offaly 1-07 after 14 minutes of action.

McManus shot wide and Munnelly had a shot hit off the crossbar before a Colm Quinn free gave Offaly their first point of the half. Michael Lawlor levelled matters once again with a pointed free. Roy Malone was introduced for Offaly in place of John Reynolds and he made an impact straight away winning a free which McManus shot wide. Stephen Kelly shot wide for Laois. Roy Malone had another chance for the Faithful put his ball chipped in only fell into the arms of Fergal Byron. Colm Quinn put Offaly a point in front with a free as David Sweeney and Vinny Claffey were introduced.

Sweeney soon found himself in the thick of the action soon after. A straight red card for the Portarlington clubman after a foul which involved no mallace on Karol Slattery from the other side of the Barrowbridge a Gracefield clubman. Barry Mooney surged forward for Offaly but his breakthrough shot went wide. Action in the 31st minute saw Keelaghan pass to Vinnie Claffey who was baring down on the Laois goals but Paul McDonald and Fergal Byron stopped the Offaly man's shot. Ross Munnelly shot wide for Laois. Ciaran McManus added another vital point for Offaly. Neville Coughlan shot wide and a foul on Joe Higgins resulted in a yellow card for the Offaly No. 13. Pascal Keelaghan. Michael Lawlor then had a cracker of a goal one minute into injury time to the joy of all Laois supporters as they rose to their feet with shouts of joy in the stand. Even Micko had no hesitation in celebrating grabbing one of the sideline flags with joy. Laois's joy was soon put at bay when Clancy put the ball out for a 45' and McManus had no qualms about slotting the pressure kick between the posts and earning a replay on Bank Holiday Monday at the Tullamore venue.

FULL-TIME: Laois 1-12 Offaly 1-12

MAN OF THE MATCH : CIARAN MCMANUS (OFFALY)

SUBS USED

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