Laois looking to next challenge, says Whelan

So near, and yet so far.

It could have been the continuation of a dream year for Laois hurling on

Sunday. League promotion secured, two games won in the Leinster championship and only a point behind Galway with seven minutes to go in the semi-final following a huge free into the wind inside his own half by Matthew Whelan.

A place in the final loomed large but a late surge from the reigning champions, 1-4 in those final minutes, and Laois were lost.

Matthew epitomised the Laois challenge with a man of the match display. Yesterday, he was feeling the pain.

“A bit sore today but that’s part of it. We came agonisingly close, losing a game like that when it was in the melting pot in the last 10 minutes. You need a bit of luck, you need things to go right for you but Galway had that bit of experience, finished stronger.”

The goal, Galway’s second, was the real killer and set Galway up for the grand finale. A shot from sub Aongus Callanan that was stopped by Laois keeper Eoin Kelly, but… “Yeah, a good shot and a good save but unfortunately for us it spun over the line. That’s the luck you don’t need!”

No-one in Laois is taking any solace from running Galway so close.

“The last few years we didn’t turn up for the big games. Cork gave us a big trimming in 2011, Dublin and Limerick did the same last year. Yesterday was going to be a yardstick for us and I think it showed that when we prepare properly, we’re not that far off the big teams.

“There was a great atmosphere in the camp and going into the Galway game we felt we had nothing to lose, no-one giving us a chance. We prepared hard, analysed what we needed to do. Our intensity levels were right. Hopefully now we’ll continue to move forward.”

The discord of the last few years is gone, says the busy 25-year-old H Dip student and part-time farmer.

“Players want to play for their county. They want to be part of it, but the set up has to be right too. Every day of the week you’re doing something, whether it’s gym, training, recovery, and if you’re going to give that time and commitment, then the set up has to be right.

“This management has put everything in place to help maximise the performance.”

* Tipperary hurlers have suffered a setback with wing back Kieran Bergin ruled out for a month with a broken hand.

He sustained the injury on club duty with Killenaule on Sunday.