Joe McDonagh Cup final: Offaly 2-23 Laois 0-26
Johnny Kelly called on the GAA to do more for hurling’s ‘squeezed middle’ after guiding Offaly back to the Leinster SHC.
The Faithful will compete in their provincial championship in 2025 following seven years in the lower tiers.
The 1998 All-Ireland champions slipped to as low as 18th in the country at one stage of their slump following a Ring Cup semi-final loss to Down in 2020.
The 2023 McDonagh Cup runners-up dug deep in Saturday’s decider, overcoming Laois with three late points having been level 11 times at Croke Park.
Goals from Brian Duignan, who top scored with 1-4, and substitute Oisin Kelly, who recovered from two cruciate setbacks, were crucial.
But it wasn’t until late on that they sealed victory with three late points from Killian Sampson, Charlie Mitchell and Jack Clancy.
“It’s a great competition, the Joe McDonagh, I agree with it,” said manager Kelly.
“But I’ve said it before, the GAA has to do more for the squeezed middle, it’s just not making sense.
I mean, Carlow, we had a tremendous battle with those guys in last year’s final but for them to go back down again, what good is that doing for Carlow?
“And if we go up next year and we don’t succeed and we’re back down again, what good is that for Offaly?”
Kelly has enjoyed various club successes over the years, leading Portumna to All-Ireland success, Borris-Ileigh to a national final and Coolderry to Offaly glory.
He said collecting the Joe McDonagh Cup, a week after the county won a maiden All-Ireland U20 title, is up there with his greatest achievements.
But he paid a rich tribute to the more experienced players in the group who stuck at it through the difficult times.
“For these lads to plough that furrow for the last five or six years, and to keep coming back again, it’s been really tough times,” he said.
Offaly’s dubious reward for winning the title is an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final fixture with Cork on Saturday.
They will have home advantage, as will Laois for their clash with Wexford. When Cork last travelled to Tullamore to play Offaly, in the league, they put 5-28 on the board.
“Cork are absolutely outstanding,” said Kelly.
“I know what happened in the league and along with that it’s going to be a really difficult week because the reality is that these guys are on a high and they’re going to have a few beers tonight, they’re going to have a few beers tomorrow too and then you’re facing into playing the third placed team in Munster.”
Offaly: M Troy; C King (0-1), C Burke, B Conneely; D King, C Kiely (0-2), D Shirley; J Sampson, E Kelly; K Sampson (0-2), D Bourke (0-1); E Cahill (0-7, 0-5 frees); B Duignan (1-4), C Mitchell (0-4), A Screeney (0-1).
Subs: E Kelly (1-0) for E Kelly 30, C Spain for Screeney 55, J Clancy (0-1) for Cahill 67, S Bourke for D Bourke 71.
Laois: E Rowland; D Conway, I Shanahan (0-1), R Mullaney; T Cuddy, P Delaney, L O’Connell (0-1); A Corby (0-4), P Purcell (0-5); FC Fennell (0-1), D Dunphy (0-11, 0-6 fres, 0-2 65), D Dooley; J Duggan (0-1), T Keyes (0-1), J Quinlan.
Subs: S Maher for Fennell 42, D Hartnett for O’Connell 44, R King (0-1) for Duggan 46, W Dunphy for Keyes 60, J Lennon for Purcell 71.
Referee: C McDonald (Antrim).