Savouring the end of a 57-year famine

Now united in their moment of glory, the Laois footballers are all humming to the same song of Hallelujah. For 57 years the faith was strong, but they needed proof. They needed Mick O'Dwyer. So start the songs of praise.

Ian Fitzgerald walks down the tunnel just moments after raising the Leinster trophy, and his body is still shaking. Reporters swarm in with the words 'Mick O'Dwyer' on their tongues.

"Everyone just wanted to give him their best," he says, "and prove they can play football. So Micko just pushed it out that extra few per cent. Even one per cent. And that's what was needed to win today."

As captain, Fitzgerald is allowed to think about lifting trophies in the course of a game. Yesterday those thoughts swung wildly. 'It must be ours'. 'It's not ours'.

"I was just in complete awe of what was going on out there. It was such a scary finish. I was terrified. But then we got those three points. And we're Leinster champions. But those 35 minutes of that second half have never felt as long.

"But we got those breaks at the end. Donal Miller kicked a great point for us. And it was desperation. We were on the way out, and it would have been a complete disaster. I don't know how we would have got over it. Seven points up and coasting.

"But then it was game over. And I just can't believe it." And when it came to raising the trophy in front of the Laois supporters it was like Fitzgerald was now witnessing all the years of desperation suddenly turn to smiles: "All I could see were faces screaming up at me. And sure after 57 years I'm sorry, there was no keeping them off the pitch."

Tactically, it was a game that even had a manager of O'Dwyer's experience at full stretch. At half-time things looked complicated, then it seemed every certainty had been abandoned. Little sense then in sending instructions from the sideline.

"At half-time Micko just said it was a new game, to start again. Go out and do the same thing and we'd win it. But those last few minutes were just deafening. You couldn't even hear yourself thinking with the noise."

So to more songs of praise: for Beano McDonald it means finally the graduation to senior ranks is complete, and only one man to thank for that. "Once Micko came in that was the aim. To win Leinster. And he doesn't aim too low. We gave him the commitment but we just didn't think it would happen so fast.

"And there was always doubt in people's minds, all bar Micko. And I think that was a major advantage in a close game like that. You need confidence to come off the bench and kick points the way Barry Brennan did. And that shows that the character of the team has stepped up as well as everything else. I mean, in other years those types of games went from us."

McDonald can now cherish his All-Ireland minor titles, knowing they were the start of something bigger. "Well I still wouldn't exchange those medals for anything," he adds, "but it's nice to add a senior title to them. And I suppose being that bit older you can appreciate it a little more."

For Michael Lawlor, the great survivor through the hard times in Laois, the thoughts on the day went beyond football. He seems lost for words when asked to describe what it means to finally triumph.

"You just think of your family. Mother and father and girlfriends and people like that, and the sacrifices they have made. It's been unreal since Christmas, and I've probably being out on three or four occasions. So it's a big thing for the family too.

"Those games when things aren't going well and there's abuse being thrown at you. That hits the family too. And a day like this makes it all worth while for them."

So to Micko. We can steal him for a few words but not for what's in his heart. He keeps moving as he talks, conscious perhaps of stealing too much of the limelight. But did he really think Laois could win Leinster this year? "Well sure I take on teams to win. In the back of my mind I knew this team could win. But the year started there with the O'Byrne Cup and we were beaten. But the one thing that matters is the championship, so we prepared from that day on. We'd a good run in the league but this was the day that counted.

"And I'm delighted for Laois. We're talking about 1946, the end of the last World War. And I think it's great for all those so-called weaker counties around the country. Any county that has 15 players, and that works with them, I think success can come."

Finally, Padraig Nolan comes out to face the music. His first season as Kildare manager, and already enough roller-coasting emotions to last a whole career. "Well I'm so proud of those lads, the way they came back twice. But it just wasn't to be. It was Laois's day and best of luck to them."

To lose two players to red cards should add plenty of talking points, yet Nolan is not willing to offer his comment: "Well no, nothing. There's no point." Yet when his team drew level again with only minutes remaining the chance of victory was clearly there: "Well yeah, coming from six points down I felt we were on a roll. The difficulty was they had the extra man, and we also wasted a few balls. And we just couldn't get ahead.

"But you have to turn around and talk about what this team has gone through. We started without two of our top players (Anthony Rainbow and Karl Ennis), and three if you count Dermot Earley.

"But we'll come back from this. In fact we're regrouped already. The Leinster championship is over and the All-Ireland series is next. "