Such a final scoreline looked unlikely at the halfway stage when the sides were level -1-4 to 0-7.  The Offaly school should have been ahead by a few points at the break, having hit eight wides, including two goal chances, to just two by their opponents.

Although very disappointing, the Dundalk lads led in the first half with Ciaran Byrne, Ben McLaughlin and Robert Carr showing promise with well-taken scores. But St Mary's began to dominate and Cian McMonagle netted the first of his three goals on 28 minutes.

The corner-forward netted his second major score four minutes after the restart and remarkably his side were nine points to the good with just 10 minutes gone in the second period.

Edenderry were so dominant after the switching of ends that they scored with nearly every attack. With Ger Leech, Sean Doyle and Mark Nolan also showing their attacking skills, it was mainly one-way traffic.

Dundalk Colleges  1-11,  C Byrne 0-7, 5fs, B McLaughlin 0-2, R Carr, R Quigley 0-1 each.

 

 

The Faithfuls powered into a 1-15 to 0-07 half-time lead, with James Mulrooney netting in the ninth minute.

Laois had Michael McEvoy dismissed in the 21st minute for a second yellow card, but battled bravely on the restart.

Willie Hyland led Laois' scoring with 0-07, but Shane Dooley and substitutes Thomas Carroll and Colin Egan kept the scoreboard ticking over for Offaly.

New Offaly manager Ollie Baker will have been pleased with the firepower of his side up front with Dooley top-scoring with 0-07 and Brendan Murphy (0-05) and Joe Bergin (0-04) also scoring well.

A disappointing attendance watched on as these local rivals squared up to each other, but Offaly always held that extra edge. Indeed, they did not trail once Murphy put them 0-03 to 0-02 ahead in the sixth minute.

Laois had opened the scoring through a Hyland point from play in the first minute, but his effort was quickly cancelled out by a Bergin effort.

Laois goalkeeper Eoin Reilly pulled off a superb save from a Mulrooney goal-bound shot before the Seir Kieran clubman pushed Offaly 0-02 to 0-01 ahead.

The sides were tied for a second time following a Brian Dunne score, but once Murphy snatched his opening point in the sixth minute Baker's men never looked back.

Mulrooney made amends for his earlier goal miss to raise the only green flag of the contest in the ninth minute, leaving Reilly with no chance to make it 1-03 to 0-03.

A Conor Mahon point opened up a double scores lead. However, Hyland kept Laois in touch with a brace of points, one from a free and the other from play.

Even still, the O'Moore men were struggling and they only managed two points in the second quarter as Offaly took firm command.

Murphy and Ryan claimed a point each, before a fourth Hyland point meant that Mulrooney's goal was the difference between the sides in the 20th minute.

Teddy McCarthy's Laois side were dealt a major blow when half-forward McEvoy picked up his second booking and had to leave the pitch.

Offaly went up a gear with Dooley and Murphy adding scores. Laois needed a big response and they almost got it when Hyland's close range free was blocked out after he went for goal.

Bergin and Brian Dunne traded scores before Offaly finished out the opening half with six unanswered points - Bergin and Dooley notched two points each while Derek Morkam and Conor Mahon were also on target.

Into the second period John Brophy hit Laois' first score since the 30th minute before McCarthy looked to his bench.

Sean Bourke and Chris Murray were introduced in place of James Walsh and Dayne Peacock respectively, with Laois hitting their stride over the next eight minutes.

Dunne continued to prove effective for the visitors with two further points from play, bringing his personal tally to four points and ensuring a 1-17 to 0-10 scoreline.

Rory Hanniffy registered Offaly's opening score of the half in the 46th minute, before Hyland and Tommy Fitzgerald claimed a brace for Laois.

However, Offaly showed no signs of slacking off and sent over five of the next six points to take a 1-23 to 0-13 lead as the game entered the final quarter.

Hyland continued to show his accuracy in front of the posts, but Offaly were sublime from open play in picking off their scores - notably, they finished the game with just three of their points coming from placed balls.

Thomas Carroll got on the scoresheet after being introduced, and then Dooley was denied Offaly's second goal on the hour mark courtesy of a superb save by Laois goalkeeper Eoin Reilly.

Laois strung together four unanswered scores over the next eight minutes, with Fitzgerald, Hyland and Joe Fitzpatrick on target.

But it was effectively shooting practice for the comfortable winners on the day as substitutes Carroll and Colin Egan confirmed a 12-point success for the Offaly outfit.

Scorers - Offaly: S Dooley 0-07 (0-03f), B Murphy 0-05, J Bergin 0-04, J Mulrooney 1-01, S Ryan 0-03, T Carroll 0-02, R Hanniffy, D Morkan, D Molloy, C Mahon, C Egan 0-01 each

Laois: W Hyland 0-07 (0-04f), B Dunne 0-04, T Fitzgerald 0-03, J Fitzpatrick, J Brophy 0-02 each

OFFALY: James Dempsey; Michael Verney, David Kenny, Stephen Wynne; James Rigney, Rory Hanniffy, Diarmuid Horan; Conor Mahon, Derek Morkan; Shane Dooley, Derek Molloy, Brendan Murphy; Sean Ryan, Joe Bergin, James Mulrooney

Subs used: Colin Egan for Mahon (46 mins), David Franks for Verney, Thomas Carroll for Mulrooney (both 56), Dermot Mooney for Molloy (65), Mark Morkan for Murphy (68).

LAOIS: Eoin Reilly; Brian Stapleton, Darren Maher, Brian Smith; Joe Fitzpatrick, Matthew Whelan, Conor Dunne; James Walsh, Brian Dunne; Dayne Peacock, Michael McEvoy, Willie Hyland; Willie Dunphy, Tommy Fitzgerald, John Brophy

Subs used: Neil Foyle for Dunphy (half-time), Chris Murray for Peacock, Sean Bourke for Walsh (both 41 mins), Paddy Mullaney for Smith (62).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

This weeks draw took place in O'Connor Pk, Tullamore with Andy Gallagher and Padraig Boland drawign the numbers

There was no Jackpot winner.  The numbers drawn were 9,17,20 and 21

Two match 3 winners win €100 each

Siobhan Cribbin, Clane, Co Kildare
Fr Sean Heaney, Tullamore

Our next draw for a Jackpot of €11,600 will be held on Tuesday February 28th

We hope that everybody associated with and interested in the development of Offaly GAA Teams will help us to promote this important fundraising initiative by contacting Offaly people from all over the world, asking them to visit the Offaly GAA website and to offer their support by entering our Lotto Draws online.

Offaly County Board wish to thank all Lotto players for their support of Offaly GAA teams

Division 1 Football League

Edenderry v Clara                               Edenderry                   M Carty           3.00 pm

Division 2 Hurling League

Brosna Gaels v Carraig/R /Town        Doon                           B Gavin           3.00 pm Division 2 Hurling League

Birr v Killeigh                                     Birr                              T Carroll          3.00 pm

Coolderry v Ballyskenagh                  Coolderry                    S Whelehan     3.00 pm

Killavilla v Killurin                             Killavilla                      D McLoughlin            3.00 pm

Shinrone v Crinkle                              Shinrone                      M Walsh          3.00 pm

St Rynaghs v Kinnitty                                    Banagher                     P Freeman       3.00 pm

Division 3 Hurling League

Seir Kieran v Drumcullen                   Clareen                        J P Costello     3.00 pm

Raheen v Shamrocks                           Geashill                       N Cooney        3.00 pm

Ballinamere v Tullamore                     Ballinamere                 C Groome       3.00 pm

           

Sunday 26^th February

Division 1 Hurling League

Kinnitty v Kilcormac/K                      Kinnitty                       D Cooke          12 noon

Shamrocks v Shinrone                        Mucklagh                    N Cooney        12 noon

Lusmagh v Seir Kieran                       Lusmagh                     M Kirwan        12 noon

Belmont v Birr                                    Moystown                   A Ryan            12 noon

Tullamore v Ballinamere                     O Brien Park               N Flynn           12 noon

Division 2 Hurling League

Clara v Drumcullen                             Clara                            M Mahon        12 noon

Division 3 Hurling League

Kilcormac/K v Coolderry                   Mountbolus                 G Connors       12 noon

Brosna Gales v Edenderry                  Ballycumber                S Fleming        12 noon

Offaly Team to play Laois in Allianz Hurling League

 

 

1	James Dempsey	Kinnitty
2	Michael Verney	Birr
3	David Kenny (c)	Belmont
4	Stephen Wynne	St Rynaghs
5	Derek Morkam	Shinrone
6	Rory Hanniffy	Birr
7	Diarmuid Horan	St Rynaghs
8	James Rigney	Kinnity
9	Conor Mahon	Kilcormac/Killoughey
10	James Mulrooney	Seir Kieran
11	Derek Molloy	Shamrocks
12	Brendan Murphy	Ballyskenagh
13	Sean Ryan	Birr
14	Joe Bergin	Seir Kieran
15	Shane Dooley	Tullamore
16	Eoin Kelly	Lusmagh
17	Thomas Carroll	Seir Kieran
18	Barry Harding	Birr
19	Colin Egan	Belmont
20	Sean Coughlan	Seir Kieran
21	Mark Morkan	Shinrone
22	Chris Mc Donald	Brosna Gaels
23	Brian Mulrooney	Seir Kieran
24	Eanna Murphy	Seir Kieran
25	Dermot Mooney	Seir Kieran
26	David Franks	Carrickshock

It might be a sound more often associated with the terraces than the theatre, but the Riverside Theatre, Castlebar was treated to chants of “Uibh Fhaile, Uibh Fhaile”, when the Ferbane/Belmont ballad group were crowed All Ireland Scór na nÓg champions on Saturday 18th February.   The Offaly and Leinster representatives, Niamh Delaney, Avril Spain, Zoe Rooney, Valene Greer and Revina Devery gave a fantastic performance on the day and were duly rewarded when the results were announced.  The group did their club, county and province proud and were thoroughly deserving of their win.  Well done to the girls, their mentor Deborah Reynolds, their club and all involved in getting their performance so such a high standard.
The Na Fianna Instrumental Group of Mark Garry, Grace Dunne, Muireann Carton, Helen Brady and Rachel Abraham also performed excellently on the day and hopes were high of a possible double victory, but when the results were announced, there was disappointment as they were pipped by Munster representatives, Ballydonoghue of Kerry. However reaching an All Ireland final is a major achievement in itself and well done to all involved with this young group who also did us all proud.