Belief the key to Laois breakthrough

IT’S easy forget now but two decades ago, long before Clare, Wexford and Limerick were dragging the romance back into hurling, Laois and Offaly were jostling to make a similar breakthrough.

Laois had a team to savour with men like Pat Critchley and John Taylor bringing them to the cusp of provincial success. That they never did so was due to their rivals across the border who provided the breakthrough blueprint for the 1990s golden era.

Laois were good, but Offaly were better. Current Laois manager Páidi Butler said the Faithful side of that era pushed Laois hurling back 20 years. Few could disagree.