Eddie Brennan praised Ryan Mullaney after he lined out for Laois against Offaly just days after the passing of his sister-in-law, Aoife Mullaney (nee Doocey).

Aoife, who was married to Ryan's brother and former Laois hurling captain Paddy and was just 35, lost her battle with cancer on Wednesday. A minute's silence was held as a mark of respect before last evening's thrilling Joe McDonagh Cup opener in Tullamore, which the O'Moore County won on a 4-22 to 3-21 scoreline. 

“Ryan’s a brilliant guy. If anyone’s looking for a guy to maybe anchor your team at centre-back or full-back, he’s top quality," Laois manager Brennan told Laois Today.

“I think it took an awful lot and speaks volumes of the type of guy he is to be able to lose somebody so close to you during the week and still come over here and just perform all around him.”

The former Kilkenny star also praised Mullaney's team-mates for rallying around him at such a difficult time.

“That was one thing when spoke about to the guys as well, we have to carry him as well. We’re lucky that there’s some great characters through the team. There’s lots of them in there and it’s just when they stick together and work together, they can be a very serious outfit,” he added.

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