Maher there in spirit

IT was a day for remembrance, as much as celebration, in the Laois camp. The sight of inter county players outside Croke Park nursing white collection buckets - with "Maher Family Trust" stickers attached - brought home to supporters that Gaelic football is, after all, just a game. Other things are far more important.

But the Laois players' on field exploits was a fitting tribute, in its own way, to their former teammate, the late Colm Ma her, who died because of his attempt to save his younger brother from the blazing family home in Portarlington.

It was, perhaps, suitable that a corner forward who spoke afterwards of Colm Maher as "a friend" should provide the touch of finishing genius to ensure Laois's ticket in to the provincial semifinal and an encounter with Meath.

Two goal hero Leo Turley speaks with his emotions. The clenched fist and the jump for joy that greeted his two goals spoke more than a thousand words.

Turley said afterwards that the Laois team decided not to ask for a postponement of the match, and to instead make what the team did on the field a sort of tribute to their former colleague.

Turley's two goal salvo was something to cherish; certainly for the man from the O'Dempsey's club.

"It is great to score goals at Croke Park, there is something special about the place," he said. "I really enjoyed scoring the goals because they were the difference between the sides in the end.

"This was a great performance, from defence through to the forwards. I thought the whole team played with tremendous heart and spirit - although I must admit that Denis O'Connell's sending off was an important factor in the game. He is not a dirty player, but his dismissal certainly made a bit of a difference."