Séamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett has penned an interesting open letter to Laois hurling supporters via the ‘Friends of Laois Hurling’ Facebook page today.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Offaly 3-22 Laois 2-14: It seems like another world now, and certainly another time but it was still the Leinster Championship and only five weeks ago.

Eoin Reilly has faced both Waterford and Dublin this year and the Laois goalkeeper believes Ger Cunningham’s forwards will provide a stern and fascinating test for the Déise’s much-vaunted defensive abilities.

The first big weekend, as mood music, fell flat. 

Dublin 4-17 Laois 0-19

Laois 0-29 Offaly 0-20: A little over a week ago, Laois hurling was at a crossroads, with the significant progress made in the past three years on the brink of being washed away in one fell swoop.

Laois put a difficult fortnight behind them in the most definitive fashion possible, blitzing old rivals Offaly in the final 45 minutes to record their first championship victory over them in 43 years.

The storylines for this weekend's GAA in pictures.

Laois dug deep to book a Leinster SHC quarter-final berth as Group winners, thanks to a hard-earned three-point win in this all-Midlands battle in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Derek McGrath didn’t dawdle when paying tribute to his experienced players after Saturday’s qualifier win over Laois. After a disappointing defeat to Cork in their Munster championship replay, the Waterford management team sought a response from their stars.

Waterford 2-22 Laois 1-15

Waterford manager, Derek McGrath admitted that he was relieved to see off Laois yesterday, given how improved the O’Moores have been in the past couple of years.

Former Waterford star Ken McGrath is demanding victory against Laois in tomorrow evening’s All-Ireland senior hurling championship qualifier at Walsh Park.

Waterford boss Derek McGrath is unhappy with the circumstances that led to forward Brian O’Sullivan being slapped with a two-match suspension.

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).

When Laois ran Clare to four points in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 quarter-final, the general reaction was surprise mixed with the usual praise-masquerading-as-condescension.

Cork 0-14 Laois 0-07

Compliments today to those who prepared Cusack Park for yesterday’s game — I don’t know how it was done but on Friday, even on Saturday, I couldn’t see how this game could be played.

Clare 1-32 Laois 0-15

It was like old times in the Portlaoise yesterday, going back to the ’80s when Laois were challenging Offaly, and challenging everyone else too. In those days the only prisoners taken were down the road, in Portlaoise jail.

Laois 2-18 Carlow 0-13

Laois 1-16 Antrim 0-13

While lesser lights will be hoping to get back in the big time, Cork and Clare are fighting to stay there