O’Dwyer inspires Laois to victory, Kilmurray devastated

ANOTHER emotional day at Croke Park for Mick O’Dwyer. And another example of how his hunger for gaelic football is far from sated after a lifetime of dining at the top table.

We have seen him take it on the chin many times after losing games of varying importance with Kerry, Kildare and Laois and we have seen him celebrate many epic successes.

And while yesterday's dramatic win in Croke Park merely marked Laois' progression to the Leinster semi-final, his unbridled joy in the dressing-room afterwards revealed a man who is still bitten by the bug, an ageless wonder who continues to derive great personal satisfaction from inspiring teams to greater things.

Like he did one more time, to the unfortunate Offaly!

Readily admitting that his team had struggled "from the word go and played some terrible football," O'Dwyer expressed pride in his charges.

"We had to fight all the way after that, but we kept on fighting.

"We never gave up and that's a good trait in any team . . .

"And, we got the goal in the finish and who cares what way it was, who was winning, or what was winning or who had all the play . . . we won the game."

Conversely, Kevin Kilmurray was devastated, evident in his demeanour and the way he faced up to media questioning.

Asked how disappointed he was, Kilmurray pondered for a few seconds before replying.............. "How do you put it into words.....It's a gift-wrap for Mick O'Dwyer.

"I had no intention of giving him an early Christmas present, but that was what happened," he stated. "I'd love to hear a few experts tell me what's wrong with Offaly football, where to do we go from here?"

O'Dwyer knew how lucky Laois were.

He pointed to Joe McNamee's missed free in the last minute (with Kilmurray pointing out that he didn't have a left footed free-taker after having just replaced Colm Quinn).

"All these things count over the hour," he added. "Offaly played any football that was played in the first half."

Ross Munnelly deflected personal credit for the goal and was more concerned about the way Laois had played, commenting: "under different circumstances this would be a very quiet dressing room. The message we got at half-time was that the game was in the melting pot and there was every chance of a win."