Preview: Laois v Offaly (Allianz Hurling League Division 1B)
Written by Laois PR Team
The Laois senior hurlers are set to begin their 2025 division 1B campaign with their first competitive game under new manager Tommy Fitzgerald. When they take on Offaly at home this Sunday (February 2nd) at 2pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below.
Tickets can be purchased online here: (Please note: a child ticket for persons under 16 will cost 5 euros for Division 1B games): https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/buy/25OM0202
Tickets can be purchased in person via selected participating SuperValu stores:
SuperValu Stradbally
Breslin’s SuperValu Rathdowney
McConville’s SuperValu Mountmellick
McLoughlin’s SuperValu Portarlington
Mulhall’s SuperValu Portlaoise
SuperValu Abbeyleix
SuperValu Parkside Portlaoise.
Follow live match scores and updates on our official CLG Laois Twitter account: @CLGLaois.
Manager Tommy Fitzgerald has named the following side to face Offaly:
Permutations in Div 1B: the teams who finish in the top 2 on the table, gain promotion to the 2026 Division 1A campaign and will contest the 2025 Div.1B final for a chance for silverware. Teams who finish in places 3, 4, 5 will be safe from relegation and remain in Div 1B for 2026. Teams who finish 6th and 7th will be relegated to Division 2 in 2026
Most previous league meeting between Laois & Offaly:
Brilliant Willie Dunphy performance secures Laois win over Offaly
NHL Div.1B on Febuary 16th 2019
Laois: 3-17. Offaly: 2-16.
In the opening 10 minutes of this Midlands Derby league clash in O’Moore Park, Offaly had a strong wind advantage to make use of. Offaly capitalised and lead 0-4 to 0-3, after Paddy Murphy pointed a superb sideline puck from incredible distance on the stand side.
The game suddenly turned in Laois’ favour after Willie Dunphy won a high ball into attack and with great pace to get by the Offaly defence, he launched a powerful shot into the top of the net for his 1st of 2 goals from play.
For the remainder of the 1st half, the Laois forwards were constantly a threat up front and caused the Offaly defence problems. In attack, Picky Maher got a point from play, Mark Kavanagh was accurate from frees and Aaron Dunphy scored 3 brilliant points from play, out wide. Mark Kavanagh’s lovely long ball found Willie Dunphy and Dunphy scored his 2nd goal.
Laois corner back Joe Phelan produced a brilliant defensive performance, cutting out many Offaly attacks.
Laois has scored 2-7 consecutively before Offaly could respond with a score of their own, a Joe Bergin point from free. Bergin was excellent at striking dead balls from long range. The score at half time was 2-13 to 0-6, in Laois’ favour.
As the 2nd half began, Offaly came out on the front foot. 3 minutes in, Offaly’s Colm Gath scored a great goal from play. Goalkeeper Eoghan Cahill on the 50 minute mark, made an outstanding point blank range save from Laois’ Paddy Purcell. Eanna Lyons done very well to set up Paddy Purcell. The ball bounced back out and Picky Maher was quick off the mark, striking a superb goal from play as Laois gained momentum again and took control of the game.
Offaly worked hard in the latter stages of the game, with 4 points scored in a row without a Laois reply. These scores included some long range Joe Bergin frees. Joe Bergin sent his final shot of the game from a free in the dying moments, a long and low ball struck into the box as Offaly went in search of a last minute goal, which they got as Bergin’s shot found the net.
Laois goalkeeper Enda Rowland was also in top form with some outstanding saves and although he had conceded a last minute goal by Joe Bergin, it was too late to mount an Offaly comeback as Laois held on for a well deserved 4 point win.
Laois: Enda Rowland; Donncha Hartnett, Matthew Whelan, Joe Phelan; Jake Cranny,
Ryan Mullaney, Jack Kelly; John Lennon (0-01), Sean Downey; Aaron Dunphy (0-03), Éanna Lyons (0-01), Paddy Purcell; Mark Kavanagh (0-10, 0-08 frees, 0-01 sideline), Willie Dunphy (2-01), Picky Maher (1-01).
Subs used: Mark Dowling for W Dunphy (50), Conor Phelan for Lyons (64), Eoin Gaughan for A Dunphy (67), Lorcan Burke for Cranny (69), Padraig Delaney for Downey (70+3).
Offaly: Eoghan Cahill (0-01, free); Tom Spain, Niall Houlihan, Ben Conneely; Andy Flynn, Pat Camon (0-01), Enda Grogan; Shane Kinsella, Mark Egan (0-02); Damien Egan, Paddy Murphy (0-01), Colin Egan; Kevin Connolly (0-01), Joe Bergin (1-08, 1-07 frees), Colm Gath (1-00).
Subs used: Kevin Dunne for D Egan (35, blood), Shane Dooley (0-02, 0-01 free) for Murphy (half-time), Aidan Treacy for D Egan (half time), Sean Dolan for Spain (half time), Paddy Rigney for Grogan (50), Dunne for Flynn (67).
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway).
Offaly: began their Div.1B 2025 campaign last weekend with a hard fought earned draw vs Carlow last Saturday in O’Connor Park, Tullamore on January 25th. For Round 1.
NHL Div.1B Round 1 2025
Offaly: 0-19
Carlow: 1-16
Oisin Kelly (left half forward) of Offaly was man of the match for his immense effort in winning possession continously, whilst contributing massive to his teammates scoring as he made a big impact in the set ups through his link of play as he ran forward. Kelly displayed massive physical strength in tackling opponents and made many crucial interceptions when out he got first out in front of Carlow players. In defence, full back Ciaran Burke was flawless in marking, tackling & turning over possession. Charlie Mitchell was the stand out man in attack with a total 0-4 scored from play.
Offaly: David Nally 0-9 (8f), Charlie Mitchell 0-4, Dan Bourke 0-3, Killian Sampson 0-2, Cathal King 0-1.
Carlow: Martin Kavanagh 0-12 (12f), Jake Doyle 1-0, James Doyle 0-2, Kevin McDonald and Ciaran Whelan 0-1 each.
By Laois PRO Fri 31st Jan
