Leinster SHC First round/Offaly 1-26 Laois 0-10:A means to an end. Forget that this was Offaly's biggest margin of victory over their midland neighbours since 1969. This can be viewed as a decent opening salvo from the much-maligned Offaly hurlers, but Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, who was in the plush new O'Connor Park stand yesterday, will have noted several areas to ruthlessly exploit come June 10th.
Laois lacked the quality forward - an honourable exception being the well-marshalled James Young - to exploit the numerous mistakes committed by a shaky Offaly rearguard. Offaly's physically imposing half-forward line will be better contained by Kilkenny, while the inside forwards can only dream of this kind of space as summer unfolds. Laois were a yard off the pace in every department.
Being sports editor for the Connacht Tribune, John McIntyre was naturally forthcoming and concise in his post-match analysis. But the bellows emanating from the Offaly dressingroom moments earlier had provided a more accurate insight into his true feelings about the level of improvement required to have any chance against the All-Ireland champions.
McIntyre said: "We got away with things today we won't get away with against Kilkenny. We all know that . . . A 19-point victory margin. It's very hard to argue against it. We produced the intensity when we needed to do it. We are first in the queue to dethrone the All-Ireland champions and I genuinely believe my players won't back away from it.
"We know we must go up four divisions this day fortnight but if you are not there you cannot win so this is a hurdle we had to overcome."
McIntyre reiterated his mantra about having a "cause" in relation to Central Council upholding the decision to relegate Offaly to Division Two of the National League. He talked about building for the future. He countered this by admitting hurling is a results-driven business. He likes that his players are slightly disgruntled at present. He wants to keep them hungry ahead of Kilkenny.
Before the flood of Offaly scores, the opening exchanges promised a thrilling encounter.
The game started with a mill. Actually, the game had not officially started; referee Michael Haverty had not thrown the ball in. Tensions simmered as the players came into contact, particularly the overenthusiastic collision between midfielders Shane Dollard of Laois and Offaly's Brendan Murphy, which sparked a general melee. The linesmen were required to maintain order.
Haverty kept his eye on the scuffle between Dollard and Murphy and showed them yellow cards when matters calmed.
Then we got some hurling - not much, mind. After a feeling-out period, where the ever-consistent James Young kept Laois afloat with some typically fine free-taking, Offaly cantered away.
Damien Murray was excellent from most dead-ball opportunities; the Hanniffy brothers, Gary and Rory, threatened sporadically and dominated the skies. But it was the inside assassins, Brian Carroll and Joe Bergin, who confirmed the gulf.
An exchange of scores brought it to 0-4 apiece before Offaly accelerated into a 0-15 to 0-6 interval lead, which would have been far greater if not for a point-blank save from Laois goalkeeper Patrick Mullaney off a Murray shot. Granted, only the butt of the post denied John Brophy a goal down the other end. The rebound was batted to safety by full back Paul Cleary.
The second half began with a free from Murray - he amassed 1-12 - and ended with replacement Michael Cordial becoming the seventh Offaly scorer, in injury time. In between Young landed five more scores, while Murray exuded class to take the only goal with a back-flick of his hurley. The prettiest points came in succession from the Hanniffys.
A total collapse was perhaps hastened by the dismissal of Michael McEvoy on 59 minutes. There were plenty of positives. And then there is Kilkenny.
