Neighbours separated by Claffey's nose for a goal

Offaly: 1-13 V Claffey 1-2, one free; C Quinn 0-4, two frees; G Comerford 03; M Keeneghan 0-2; C McManus 0-2, one free, one 45.

Laois: 0-12 C Conway 0-5, one free; I Fitzgerald 0-3, two frees, one 45; C Parkinson 0-2; J Kealy 0-1; B McDonald 0-1.

Referee: M McGrath (Donegal).

Attendance: 31,539.

One of these days Laois will reach full flight and forever drop their shadow of expectation. And though they threatened to lift off for a little while yesterday, it was Offaly's years and class that eventually rose to the top.

This was a mostly harmless local feud, and the four points that separated the sides in the end could have been less or even reversed had fortune come down a little kinder on Laois. Twice they were denied goals by a simple twist of fate and the one they conceded couldn't possibly have come at a worse time.

Offaly had spent the closing period of the first half chasing a point or two deficit, but, just before the call for the turnaround, Vinny Claffey showed again his sixth sense for a score and popped in the only goal of the game. It would prove the deciding score. They added a little safety starting the second half and, bar a few brief moments of concern, they held Laois at that distance until the end.

But, while Offaly relied on the old reliable faces of Finbar Cullen, Colm Quinn and Ciaran McManus, the young faces of Laois provided most of the game's spark. At times the full forward line of Brian McDonald, Colm Parkinson and Chris Conway gelled majestically and there's little doubt that their best days are yet to come.

Yet, having started so well, all the Laois forwards lost some of their vision and imagination in the second half, kicking 10 wides between them and failing to create a sustained assault on the Offaly lead.

While people like Gary Comerford and Karl Slattery stepped up their game for Offaly, the Laois attack lost its shape and the clock would tick out without any real threat of a comeback.

It would surely have been a way different second half had Laois converted either of their two clear goal chances. Just before the quarter hour, David Sweeney looked to be through for a certain goal having rounded the goalkeeper, but instead Cullen got the crucial block before the ball could get over the line.

A controversial decision by Donegal referee Michael McGrath surrounded their second chance, 23 minutes into the game. Ian Fitzgerald laid on the perfect pass for Conway and, as he was part wrestled down by goalkeeper Padraic Kelly, the ball rolled into the net. McGrath decided on the penalty rather than allow the goal, but Conway's own attempt from the spot slipped off the post and wide.

The lead had exchanged hands evenly up to that stage and shortly afterwards Fitzgerald's free levelled the sides at 0-5 apiece. For the remaining 10 minutes of the half, Laois were far more adventurous up front, particularly McDonald and Conway, and it was no great surprise when they jumped two points clear - 0-8 to 0-6 - just before the break.

Unfortunately for them, Claffey still found the time to steal his goal. Neville Coughlan, who had been performing admirably as the man at full forward, set up the pass and, although Claffey had Joseph Higgins to worry about, the goal looked a formality. He was helped when Higgins slipped, but it was still a fine finish from the old timer.

From then on Laois would give something up for everything they gained. John Kealy and Noel Garvan worked hard at midfield but McManus was getting the better of them, and most of the little things he did helped make Offaly's day.

Comerford had pushed them three points clear with two fine points back to back and so began a rather tame exchange of points that lasted the whole second half. Another free from Fitzgerald helped reduce the gap to one, but that was short lived as Keeneghan and Claffey both popped up again when it mattered.

Defensively, Offaly were tighter now than before and that added pressure contributed to a growing succession of wides from Laois. Another free from Quinn was the last score three minutes from time and, although Conway had one last run at goal, Kelly stood firm this time.

So, while Laois put their name into the losers' hat, Offaly will now renew rivalries with Dublin on June 17th. A few more years of maturing within those Laois forwards, however, and those roles may finally get to be reversed.