The second James Owens blew the final whistle on Laois’ stunning nine-point defeat of Offaly in Sunday’s Leinster quarter-final, man of the match Willie Hyland made a beeline towards his manager.

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

Laois 1-17 Carlow 1-14: Laois half-time substitute Ben Conroy made an instant impact at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday, scoring 1-2 in the opening minutes of the second half as Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s side stormed into an eight-point lead which Carlow were unable to claw back, despite a brave late rally in this Leinster SHC Round Robin tie.

When Laois came within a couple of minutes and a couple of points of beating Galway in the Leinster quarter-final a few weeks ago (1-22 to 0-23) the general consensus was the westerners had regressed in the last year, would be eaten alive by Kilkenny in the semi-final (this Sunday in Tullamore, 4pm).

He couldn’t be blamed for fancying the easier of the two Leinster championship paths, though Seamus Plunkett insists he genuinely hasn’t thought about Laois’s chances beyond next weekend.

Laois 2-21 Antrim 0-21

Around his native Portlaoise he’s known only as ‘Cheddar’ but there is nothing cheesy about Seamus Plunkett, the man charged with turning around the hurling fortunes of his native Laois.

Seamus Plunkett has been handed a one-year term as Laois Senior Hurling manager following his ratification at a County Committee meeting last night.