The Mike Quirke era of Laois football began with a defeat in the opening round of the O’Byrne Cup against neighbours Offaly on Saturday.

Clare needed every one of their 20 scores to edge out a valiant Offaly side that refused to give in.

UCD 1-10

Rhode (Offaly) 0-12 Sean O’Mahony’s (Louth) 1-5: Niall McNamee fired Rhode into their fifth Leinster final in 11 seasons as the Sean O’Mahony’s fairytale was finally halted in Drogheda.

Westmeath 1-9 Offaly 0-9: Westmeath maintained their Division 3 status for another week at least with this hard-earned three-point victory over Offaly in Cusack Park, Mullingar.

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.

O’Byrne Cup - Offaly 0-13 Louth 1-9: A late Louth rally came up short as Offaly rang in the new year with a win in Darver. 

Kildare 1-15 Offaly 1-13

Brian Whelahan has shown remarkable faith in his Offaly team for tomorrow’s crunch All-Ireland hurling qualifier with Clare in Ennis.

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.

Longford 0-16 Offaly 0-13: In a streaky game where both sides thrived on confidence, ultimately Offaly’s lack of self-belief cost them when they saw the finishing line.

Longford’s survival instincts served them well as they came from seven points adrift to oust Offaly in a keenly contested Leinster SFC clash at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

Kildare 3-12 Offaly 0-9

Sigerson Cup Quarter-Final: IT Carlow 0-11 UL 0-10: IT Carlow withstood a barrage of injury-time UL attacks and, indeed, a half-hour stoppage in proceedings to secure a first Sigerson Cup semi-final appearance.

Allianz FL Division 4 Round 2: Offally 0-13 Waterford 1-4: Waterford’s early season momentum hit the buffers in foggy and damp conditions at O’Connor Park yesterday afternoon as an early red card for midfielder Shane Ahearne left them hugely disadvantaged.

Dublin 0-17 Offaly 0-13: A magnificent seven points in a row from resurgent Dublin secured victory at Parnell Park and pole position in Group A of the O’Byrne Cup.

McGrath Cup: Waterford 1-16 University of Limerick 2-7

St Vincent’s (Dublin) 1-13 Rhode (Offaly) 0-06

St Vincents 1-13 Rhode 0-06

What was expected to be a fiercely contested clash between two clubs that have been regular participants in the Leinster club championship surprisingly proved a one-sided encounter as Rhode overwhelmed Moorefield.

Rhode (Offaly) 2-09 St Patrick’s (Louth) 0-10

Rhode 0-13 Edenderry 1-7

Queen’s University 0-13 University of Limerick 0-11

Laois 2-18 Offaly 1-15

Tullamore 2-07 Rhode 0-09

St Patrick’s (Louth) 1-09 Rhode (Offaly) 1-07

Rhode 0-15 Clara 1-06

Goals at the start of each half were crucial as Meath advanced to the Leinster MFC semi-finals with a win over Offaly in Tullamore yesterday.

St Mary’s claimed their first Hogan Cup success with a stunning performance at Croke Park on Saturday.

Three goals from Cian McMonagle fired St Mary’s Edenderry to victory over holders Dundalk Colleges in this Leinster Colleges SAFC semi-final at Navan’s Pairc Tailteann.