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

Hurling’s managerial carousel had already picked up considerable pace by the time Kilkenny returned up the steps of the Hogan Stand in early September, several high-profile figures opting off the merry-go-round.

Official Championship records for 2015 will note another first round qualifier exit for Laois though manager Seamus Plunkett believes the season has the potential to be of historical significance, if they build on it.

Tactical innovation in hurling is heading towards a new level.

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.

Laois GAA top-brass have not given up on Seamus Plunkett returning as county senior hurling manager.

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.

Limerick 1-25 Laois 1-19

Waterford 3-21 Laois 0-12: A patient approach worked best for Waterford as Derek McGrath and Seamus Plunkett turned Fraher Field into a chessboard on Saturday night.

Waterford’s goal scoring return of three goals in eight competitive games worries former All Star corner forward Jim Greene approaching tomorrow’s qualifier with Laois.

For the last 12 months there has been a welcome change in the narrative around Laois hurling.

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.

Another two weeks have still to crawl by before the ball is thrown in between Waterford and Cork, a game which will signal the start of the 2014 All-Ireland SHC in most people’s eyes.

The Allianz Hurling League Division 2A decider takes place on Sunday in Thurles, table-toppers Kerry taking on Carlow.

Laois 2-19 Clare 2-23

Clare 2-23 Laois 2-19

“It’s only the league quarter-finals so it doesn’t really matter.” — Discuss in 1,000 words, using appropriate quotation and sarcasm to support your argument

Jimmy Barry-Murphy admits he didn’t see “any great point” to ban Anthony Nash’s penalty-taking technique.

ANTRIM

Clare 1-32 Laois 0-15

A strange phenomenon has been occurring in Laois.

They’re the forgotten team in the forgotten game this weekend, Clare versus Laois in the ‘other’ All-Ireland qualifier, but, says Laois manager Seamus Plunkett, they’re not the only ones.

Laois manager Seamus Plunkett has named the same team for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC second phase qualifier against Clare in Ennis (throw-in 3pm) as the one which lost to Galway in the Leinster semi-final.

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.

Laois 1-13 Galway 2-17

There’s a burning question which must be asked ahead of the Dublin v Wexford replay this evening: what the hell does Liam Dunne think he achieved last week with all the shenanigans around the naming of the team?

Laois 2-18 Carlow 0-13

Laois 1-16 Antrim 0-13

ALLIANZ HL DIVISION 2A FINAL

Laois and Westmeath will contest the Division 2A Allianz Hurling League final, with both taking wins today, while elsewhere Kerry had a slender one-point win over Derry.

There was a trio of away wins in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League as Laois, Westmeath and Kerry all claimed victories this weekend.

The Derry, Laois and Kerry hurlers all got their Allianz NHL Division 2A campaigns off to winning starts this afternoon.

Carlow, UCD, Wexford and NUI Galway took wins in the opening round of the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup.

New Laois senior hurling manager Seamus Plunkett has reportedly put together a strong backroom team for his first season at the helm.

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

Seamus Plunkett has been ratified as the new Laois hurling manager on a one-year deal.

Laois' momentum-building run through this year's All-Ireland SFC qualifiers has earned manager Justin McNulty another season at the helm.

KILDARE boss Kieran McGeeney received a major boost with the news that he can call on defender Ollie Lyons for Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier clash with Laois.

His appointment has been known of in GAA circles for the past three weeks, but Dinny Cahill was officially appointed as the new Laois senior hurling manager at a County Board meeting last night.

LAOIS have confirmed that Mick O’Dwyer is their main target to succeed Colm Browne as the county’s senior football manager.