Cheddar Plunkett’s delight as Laois end 43-year Offaly agony

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.

A bond had been broken. The manager, Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett was gone, his heart broken having felt that a trust had been lost. A man who has put much more than his time into Laois hurling, felt there was no comeback.

The panel was devastated too. Long-serving defender, Matthew Whelan was jettisoned. It was an unseemly mess and it seemed that there was no way they could beat Offaly.