There was a trio of away wins in the O'Byrne Cup this afternoon, as Kildare, Laois and Offaly delivered victories, while neighbours Westmeath and Meath shared the spoils in Mullingar.

Leitrim, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, and Wicklow will support the creation of a second-tier football championship at Special Congress on October 19.

Former Kilkenny star Michael Fennelly is set to be appointed as the new Offaly senior hurling manager.

There were no upsets in this afternoon’s Liberty Insurance senior camogie championship, though underdogs Waterford, Offaly and Wexford made life difficult for the winners across the three games that were contested.

Cathal Kiely proved the hero for Offaly as his personal tally of 0-20 helped the Faithful County to dispatch Dublin by the bare minimum after extra time in their Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U20 Hurling Championship quarter-final at Parnell Park last night.

Offaly safely negotiated a potentially tricky first round qualifier tie at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park in Tullamore this afternoon, where they had the brilliance of Bernard Allen to thank for the ten-point winning margin they enjoyed against London.

Laois are through to the final of the Joe McDonagh Cup after comfortably overcoming Kerry this afternoon.

Former Waterford manager Derek McGrath has rejected claims that the county’s senior hurling team are in crisis.

Longford man McGee guided the Faithful County to their famous 1982 All-Ireland final win, denying Kerry the five-in-a-row, as well as three consecutive Leinster titles and two All-Ireland Club SFC crowns with UCD.

Carlow recorded their first ever away win in Division One hurling today, and they couldn’t have done it in more dramatic circumstances as they came from 11 points down to outfight Offaly in Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, condemning the Faithful County to relegation to Division Two next year.

Former Offaly star Johnny Dooley has described their Division 1B relegation play-off with Carlow on Sunday as one of the most important games “in the history of Offaly hurling”.

Offaly’s two top forwards Joe Bergin and Shane Dooley hit a combined 4-4 as the Faithful County claimed their first Allianz Hurling League 1B points of the campaign with a deserved victory over Carlow in a game which started in a downpour and ended in a snowstorm at Netwatch Cullen Park.

OFFALY'S two top forwards Joe Bergin and Shane Dooley hit a combined 4-4 as the Faithful County claimed their first NHL Division 1B points of the campaign with a deserved seven-point victory over Carlow in a game which started in a downpour and ended in a snowstorm at Netwatch Cullen Park.

The Faithful County's former captain is back in training with John Maughan's panel.

Louth ended the year on a high with victory over Wicklow, while Westmeath and Offaly drew (0-11 apiece) in Saturday’s Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup action.

As his name continues to be linked with the Mayo senior manager’s position, Westport have been given no indication that James Horan won’t be remaining on in charge of their senior team.

Ousted Offaly boss Stephen Wallace has been linked with the vacant Waterford football job.

Westmeath hurling manager Michael Ryan says the Leinster championship should not be expanded to six teams, insisting Offaly will benefit from time spent in the second-tier.

Former Offaly hurler Brian Carroll has accused the GAA of behaving in an elitist fashion by preserving the Munster SHC “at all costs”, while, at the same time, tearing Leinster apart.

A late flurry of scores from Laois masked the dominant nature of Offaly’s performance at

Derry manager Damian McErlain was a relieved man after his team finally got their Division 3 campaign up-and-running with a five-point victory over Offaly in Celtic Park yesterday.

Offaly 2-25 Dublin 1-15: Talisman forward Shane Dooley crowned his 100th Offaly appearance with 1-5 as the Faithful County pulled off a surprise Allianz hurling league win.

New Offaly hurling manager Kevin Martin has admitted his players’ confidence needs to be rebuilt after a disastrous few years and several ‘thrashings’.

The fixtures have been announced for Leinster's O'Byrne Cup next year.

Former Galway All-Star nominee Pádraic Mannion says playing hurling in Division 1B won’t put the Tribesmen at any disadvantage heading into the championship.

Offaly great Michael Duignan has revealed his deep frustration with the state of hurling, claiming that the most talented players are being straight-jacketed by defensive tactics.

Offaly 0-15 Clare 1-11: Offaly added their name to the shortlist of Division 3 promotion candidates yesterday when they overcame the concession of a late Eoin Cleary goal to snatch the last score of an entertaining contest against Clare at O’Connor Park.

Offaly manager Eamonn Kelly accepts they have been a bogey team for Limerick in recent years but expects that will count against them in Tullamore on Sunday.

New Offaly manager Eamonn Kelly got off to a perfect start this afternoon when his Faithful County charges easily accounted for DIT.

2010 All-Ireland-winning manager Liam Sheedy is to spearhead the search for the new Offaly senior hurling manager.

Leinster U21 HC semi-finals Kilkenny v Carlow, Netwatch Cullen Park (J Heffernan, Wexford), 7.30pm.

Waterford 1-7 Offaly 1-20: This we expected. Tom McGlinchey’s letter, read out at last Monday night’s County Board meeting, had us forewarned.

Offaly footballers will attempt to hang around the championship beyond June for the first time since 2011 when they face Waterford in tomorrow afternoon’s All-Ireland qualifier in Dungarvan.

“It is 43 years now and God knows we’ve waited long enough,” says Frank Keenan, his tone suggesting a wearing thin of patience.

Offaly 1-13 Antrim 1-07: “We do things the hard way here by the looks of things.” That was the verdict of Offaly manager Pat Flanagan after the Faithful County secured their promotion out of Division 4 with a win over Antrim at O’Connor Park yesterday afternoon.

For the second time in three years, Kerry must avoid defeat in Omagh on the final league Sunday to escape relegation.

Offaly 2-13 Leitrim 1-16

Longford 1-12 Waterford 1-10

Offaly 1-14, Waterfrord 2-18: The previous four league meetings between these two counties were evenly shared, the latter three decided by a goal or less.

London 1-2 Offaly 0-9: Allianz Football League Division 4: New Offaly manager Pat Flanagan expects the Faithful County to embark on a promotion-winning campaign after holding off a spirited London revival at Ruislip to claim a perfect league start in Allianz NFL Division 4.

New Offaly football manager Pat Flanagan says they need to stop looking for excuses if hisnative county is to move forward in 2015.

All-Ireland champions St Vincents of Dublin will start next month’s Leinster club championship final as clear favourites against Rhode of Offaly after today's semi-finals.