No chance for hurlers to savour league success as Laois await
By Kevin Egan
Tomorrow’s Joe McDonagh Cup clash might be a meeting between two counties that know each other incredibly well, but Offaly and Laois come into this fixture on the back of very different spring campaigns, making it tough to predict how the action will unfold in Tullamore (throw-in 3pm).
In terms of momentum, the home county absolutely has the advantage. Laois endured a gruelling league campaign among elite company in Division 1 of the Allianz League, losing six games on the spin, while Offaly crowned a successful campaign in Division 2A with a superb defensive performance in Portlaoise last Sunday against Kildare.
Even allowing for the significant gulf in quality between the two tiers, when games run so close together, there’s a lot to be said for winning.
If we change focus from mental health to physical health, however, suddenly it’s Laois supporters who will have greater cause for optimism.
Offaly, now in the middle of a run of seven consecutive weekends of action, have lost a host of players to injuries, while Laois manager Willie Maher hasn’t nearly as many headaches to deal with on that front, at least at the time of writing.
The impact of those injuries, particularly to players like Eimhin Kelly, Oisín Kelly and Ross Ravenhill who operate from midfield up, has been clear to see. Brian Duignan came off the bench to score a crucial point at the end of the league final, but that was just the fifth point scored by an Offaly substitute across the last five games.
Contrast that with Laois, where proven scorers such as Ross King, Willie Dunphy and PJ Scully could all be kept in reserve and sprung off the bench in the relegation play-off against Westmeath.
Where the two sides are on the same page is the importance of this fixture, and the value of a win. In general, the nature of the competition, with a straight final for the top two counties and nothing but regret for the rest, leaves very little room for error.
Last year was the fifth running of the McDonagh Cup, and Kerry made history by becoming the first team in those five years to come back from failing to win their first game to finish in the top two. Perhaps another county will repeat that feat in 2023, but the smart money says that in a round robin series where losing two games out of five could be fatal, it’s better to preserve your “extra life” for as long as possible.
Having said all that, where does the advantage lie? Hard to tell, but Offaly earned our faith with a classy performance last week that was packed full of focus, resolve and discipline.