Brian Whelahan was making no excuses after Offaly's defeat to Laois, admitting his team was "outfought".

The once-mighty Faithful will replace their neighbours in the Leinster SHC round-robin series next year after yesterday's eight-point loss, which was their first to Laois in championship hurling since 1972.

"From our point of view, I felt we couldn't have prepared any better," the crestfallen Offaly manager said.

"We had a couple of right good games, players seemed really up for it, but as we said inside, that one or two per cent that was missing was vital. Laois wanted it that bit more and that's the most disappointing thing. We were outfought today."

The Millennium Man admitted that the defeat is a huge setback for Offaly hurling.

"All of the little things we tried to work on this year, we just took a step backwards today - a major step back. It's just brutal and that's the truth.

"We don't know where we are going to go after today. The mood in the dressing-room is devastating."

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