Injury-time point seals Offaly win: Report

Offaly 0-13, Laois 2-6

A moment of artistry from corner-forward Pascal Kellaghan who kicked a superb injury time point from a sideline kick to give Offaly the narrowest of victories over Laois in their Bank of Ireland Leinster senior football championship quarter-final at Tullamore.

As the game moved two minutes deep into injury time it looked as if Laois’s battling comeback had given them a second chance.

Trailing 0-12 to 2-4 with less than seven minutes remaining, Laois staged a remarkable comeback which produced points from Pauric Clancy and Chris Conway, with Colm Quinn kicking one in between to leave the minimum separating the sides, 0-12 to 2-5 with four minutes remaining.

It was at this stage that Laois substitute Stephen Kelly brought the sides level with a pointed free after Brian McDonald had been fouled.

When a draw looked the likely outcome it was Kellaghan who kicked a superb 72nd minute winning point from a sideline kick out on the 14- yard line.

The opening 35 minutes produced little in the way of free flowing football as both sets of players found control difficult in the heavy underfoot conditions.

Passes were sent astray on a continuous basis with the result neither side could stamp their authority on proceedings.

The game had gone a full nine minutes before the opening score a Laois point from corner-forward Brian McDonald.

McDonald even off scraps of possession was giving Barry Malone a torrid opening to the game with the corner-forward capitalising on a long ball into the danger area to beat Pauric Kelly in the home goal with a well drilled low shot to the bottom corner of the net.

Offaly had to wait until the 15 minute for their opening score a Roy Malone point. Amazingly Laois failed to score for the remainder of the half as two superb Pascal Kellaghan points and further points from Ciaran McManus, while Colm Quinn chipped in with two pointed frees which left Offaly with a 0-6 to 1-2 interval lead.

As a result of this victory Offaly have now set up a semi-final meeting with Kildare while Laois must look to the All-Ireland qualifiers to keep their championship alive.

Offaly: P. Kelly, C. Daly, J. Kenny, B. Mooney, J. Hurst, G. Rafferty, K. Slattery, S. Grennan, C. McManus (0-2), C. Quinn (0-5), F. Cullen, A. McNamee (0-1), N. Coughlan, R. Malone (0-1), P. Kellaghan (0-4). Subs: P. Mulhaire for Coughlan; D. Claffey for Malone; A. Mulhall for Grennan.

Laois: F. Byron, D. Ryan, T. Kelly, P. McDonald, D. Conroy, K. Fitzpatrick, J. Higgins, P. Clancy (0-1), N. Garvan, D. McEvoy, I. Fitzgerald, M. Lawlor, B. McDonald (1-1), G. Ramsbottom. C. Conway (1-3). Subs: D. Brennan for P. McDonald; G. Kavanagh for Fitzgerald; S. Kelly (0-1) for McEvoy.

Referee: M. Convery (Derry).