Laois 0-16
Offaly 0-14

Michael John Tierney shot 0-7 as Laois defeated neighbours Offaly in a challenge match which marked the official opening of Mountmellick GAA's new clubhouse last night.

While the Offaly team featured Niall Smith, Richie Dalton, John Reynolds and Ross Brady who all recently accepted an invitation from interim manager Tom Coffey to return to the fold, neither Ciaran McManus nor Niall McNamee played any part in the local derby clash.

Laois, who face a difficult Leinster SFC opener against Longford in a couple of weeks' time, laid the foundations for their victory in the first half hour when five points from Tierney helped them to a commanding 0-10 to 0-2 lead.

The Faithful responded with four unanswered points from Mark Dunne (who was facing his native county), Ken Casey and John Maloney before the interval, and they continued to eat into the home side's lead after the restart. When Anton Sullivan pointed with eight minutes to go, the margin was down to the minimum, but Billy Sheehan hit back with the insurance point for Justin McNulty's men.

Scorers - Laois: MJ Tierney (4f, 1 '45) 0-7; S Conroy, D Strong 0-2 each; G Walsh (1f), D Conway, C Boyle, C Kelly, B Sheehan 0-1 each. Offaly: K Casey (2f, 1 '45) 0-5; M Dunne 0-4; J Maloney 0-2; J Reynolds, R Brady, A Sullivan 0-1 each.

LAOIS: E Culliton; L Kealy, K Lillis, M Timmons; D Strong, S Julian, C Boyle; K Meaney, J Finn; S Conroy, B Sheehan, MJ Tierney; D Conway, G Walsh, C Kelly. Subs: J Dunphy for Culliton (HT); J Kavanagh for Boyle (41); C Munnelly for Strong (47); D O'Connor for Conroy (55); A Mahon for Tierney (64).

OFFALY: A Mulhall; E Rigney, R Dalton, S Pender; B Darby, J Maloney, S Sullivan; N Smith, A McNamee; D Kelly, M Dunne, D Hanlon; A Sullivan, J Reynolds, K Casey. Subs: R Brady for Kelly (50); B Allen for Reynolds (53); K Meehan for Mulhall (56); M Brazil for Hanlon (68).

Referee: Syl Doyle (Wexford). Tweet

Most Read Stories