Mark Barry spot on as Laois edge Offaly in Tailteann Cup thriller
Offaly were clinging onto a 3-16 to 2-18 lead when the excellent Patrick O'Sullivan was pushed in the 74th minute and Barry made no mistake from the kick.
Despite the win, Laois only go through in third place while Offaly are runners up in the group and Wicklow go direct into the quarter-finals after claiming an unlikely top place – the three teams tied on four points.
The first half was a very up and down one for both sides. Offaly started well and points from Jordan Hayes and Keith O'Neill did not reflect their early dominace.
Laois settled down after this, levelling it up with points from a Ronan Coffey free and the outstanding Brian Byrne. A fisted goal from Aaron McEvoy put them 1-02 to 0-03 ahead after 12 minutes and Offaly struggled for the next fifteen minutes or soy.
A stunning Damon Larkin goal gave Laois a 2-04 to 0-04 lead after 22 minutes and Offaly were in serious bother. They responded very well, however, as they got five of the next six points, two from Shane Tierney and a two pointer from the excellent Keith O'Neill. This was followed by a super 34th minute goal from one of their brightest prospects, Cillian Bourke and Offaly held a 1-10 to 2-6 lead at the break.
Laois hit another purple patch at the start of the second half. Sub Michael Doran and Niall Corbet got great two pointers from play, sandwiching a two point free from Killian Roche as Laois led by 2-12 to 1-12 after 45 minutes. A fantastic Jordan Hayes goal levelled it up at 2-13 each after 50 minutes and it was still all square, 2-15 each when Pa Kirwan edged Laois ahead in the 58th minute.
It was nip and tuck from here to the finish as Laois rallied very well and points from Pa Kirwan and Ronan Coffey put them two ahead by the 63rd minute.
Sub Ruari McNamee made a great impact off the bench for Offaly. He booted home a 67th minute goal to put them a point up and then curled over a point to put them ahead again after Patrick O'Sullivan had equalised.
It looked like Offaly would hold on but Laois had the last say right at the death.
Offaly: Paddy Dunican (0-1, 45'); Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, Daire McDaid; Aidan Bracken, John Furlong, Rory Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes (1-2); Kyle Higgins (0-1), Cathal Flynn, Cillian Bourke (1-0); Keith O'Neill (0-7, 1 x 2 and 2f), Jack Bryant (0-1), Shane Tierney (0-3).
Subs: Dylan Hyland for Tierney (56m), Ruari McNamee for O'Neill (64m), Aaron Kellaghan for Bourke (74m),
Laois: Killian Roche (0-2, 2pf); Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Liam Knowles; Patrick O'Sullivan (0-2), Seamus Lacey, Aaron McEvoy (0-1); Conor Heffernan, Damon Larkin (2-1); Pa Kirwan (0-1), Ronan Coffey (0-3, 2f), Kevin Swayne; Brian Byrne (0-4), Mark Barry (1-0, penalty), Niall Corbett (0-2, 1 2p).
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