Brian Duignan impressed for Offaly against Laois. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Offaly 1-24 Laois 1-15
By Barry McEvoy at Laois Hire O'Moore Park
Offaly got their first win of their Allianz Hurling League campaign after a comprehensive nine-point victory over Laois in O’Moore Park this afternoon.
Brian Duignan and Dan Ravenhill starred for the Joe McDonagh champions as they combined for 18 points in a fantastic attacking performance.
Laois led by two at half time after having a deceptively strong wind to their advantage, but the visitors got away from them in the second half and put in a much improved performance from their opening draw against Carlow.
Brian Duignan opened the scoring for Offaly with a free against the wind in the opening second, though it took little time for Aaron Dunphy to level at the other end.
The opening score from paly came by way of an audacious effort from Jordan Walshe to put the hosts in front for the first time.
A couple of goal chances went begging at both ends before a quick Duignan double saw the Faithful lead once more in the eighth minute.
David Dooley traded score with Duignan before youngster Donal Shirley galloped down the right wing in acres of space to fire over.
The yoyoing continued as Dunphy slotted a 65 after a saved effort from Tomas Keyes and Aidan Corby levelled things up once again in the 20th minute.
Offaly would dominate the following 10 minutes, starting with a goal chance for Charlie Mitchell that sailed over the bar.
Cha Dwyer marked his return to the intercounty scene with a long range effort and Walshe added his second of the game, but Offaly bit back with a score from Dan Ravenhill followed by two Duignan points after he received a yellow card alongside Lee Cleere after a tussle.
The hosts rallied strongly late on and Dunphy benefitted with three frees in succession before Dwyer notched a second larte on to put his team 0-11 to 0-9 ahead at the break.
Offaly started the second half strongly with scores from Ravenhill, Dan Bourke and Duignan before Dunphy got Laois off the mark in the second period with a free to level.
A trio of frees from Duignan saw the visitors take the lead once more and with the wind behind them they began to dominate the play.
The hosts would be able to add only four scores to their first half tally in what became a very tough 35 minutes for Tommy Fitzgerald's charges.
They couldn't contain the Offaly attack and Duignan made hay with further scores from frees while Dan Ravenhill put on a masterclass of scoring with four points from play in the second half from a variety of angles.
Johnny Kelly's team's dominance was compounded late in the game when substitute David Nally rattled the net from close range with his first touch after his introduction to confirm a resounding victory for the Faithful.
There was time late on for a consolation goal from Laois as Enda Rowland marked his 100th appearance for his county with a goal from a penalty with the final puck.
Scorers for Offaly: Brian Duignan 0-13 (10fs), Dan Ravenhill 0-5, David Nally 1-0, Oisin Kelly 0-2, Dan Bourke 0-1 Donal Shirley 0-1, Colin Spain 0-1, Charlie Mitchell 0-1.
Scorers for Laois: Aaron Dunphy 0-7 (5fs, 1 65), Enda Rowland 1-0 (penalty), Jordan Walshe 0-2, Cha Dwyer 0-2, David Dooley 0-2, Aidan Corby 0-1, Paddy Purcell 0-1.
Offaly: Mark Troy; Padraig Cantwell, Ciaran Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Colin Spain; Cathal King, Jason Sampson; Killian Sampson, Dan Bourke, Dan Ravenhill; Charlie Mitchell, Oisin Kelly, Brian Duignan.
Subs: David Nally for Duignan (67), David King for Kelly, DJ McLoughlin for Spain and Jack Clancy for Mitchell (all 70).
Laois: Enda Rowland: Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Donnchadh Hartnett; Tom Cuddy, Padraig Delaney, Fiachra C-Fennell; Aidan Corby, Jordan Walshe; David Dooley, Cha Dwyer, Aaron Dunphy; Jer Quinlan, Tomás Keyes, Martin Phelan.
Subs: Ben Conroy for Quinlan (HT), Paddy Purcell for Phelan (43), Eanna Lyons for Dunphy (59), Mark Dowling for Corby (65).
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).
