Eddie Brennan was full of his praise for his Laois players after they pulled off a sensational victory over Dublin to earn a crack at Tipperary in next Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.

The O'Moore County produced their best display in decades to win by 1-22 to 0-23 and secure a quick return to Croke Park where they lifted the Joe McDonagh Cup seven days ago.

"I'm delighted for them," the former Kilkenny star told RTE. 

"They could have been forgiven for going through the motions this week, and saying we're going to enjoy the summer, but they really tucked into it. Today we were absolutely brilliant in the execution.

"As the year went on, the skill and the heart grew in them. They're the things that stand to a team when you're in a battle, and your back is to the wall. It was their spirit today."

Brennan said he had a 'good feeling' the midlanders would give a big performance after meeting with the players on Friday.

"Friday night, as a manager, you're going,' are they ready? Are they tuned into this?' Because we firmly believed that we could beat Dublin here today," he continued.

"We've had a couple of good battles with them this year. We should have beaten them in the league, and we didn't. That's what good teams will do; punish you for your mistakes. They drove on the meeting. They drove on the training this week. It was great to hear them believing they could do it, because they've a savage amount of skill and ability.

"It's mad really. I left Portlaoise on Friday evening, and I rang Niall Corcoran (Laois coach and former Dublin hurler) and said, 'I think we're right.'

"Because up to that point, and up to that meeting after training, I wasn't sure. When I heard what they said in that meeting, I said that these boys are tuned into this. I had a good feeling."

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