Micko hits full stride

There was a sense of occasion in Tullamore yesterday as the midland rivals met again to settle their Leinster replay. "It's like an All-Ireland," said one supporter, taken aback by the throngs converging on O'Connor Park.

Maybe an exaggeration, but at the other end of the scale was the official attendance of just over 13,000. So the ground was half empty? No half measures for Laois, who recorded only a second championship win over their neighbours in 34 years. A long time for most people, but at that stage Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer was already well into his epic inter-county career.

After his latest victory on that stage he was in exceptionally good humour, gently chiding the assembled media for criticism after the drawn match.

"That's all part and parcel of the game. We have to accept what the reporters say. It's good that they give us a bit of touching-up every now and again. It keeps us on our feet.

"But overall it was a cracking game of football. It was amazing that we didn't get one free within 50 yards of the goal. We didn't get one score from a free today. That must be a record."

He was also quick to distance himself from any messianic talk around the county.

"Offaly have always been a thorn in many, many people's heads. Or wherever. Our Lord had them in his head as well, and I do have a few of them there everynow and again. You never get anything easy off Offaly. They're hard footballers and they'll be hard beaten in the back door."

If there was a downside it was the sendings-off of Paul McDonald and captain Ian Fitzgerald. McDonald's was the more serious and he will probably miss the semi-final against Dublin. O'Dwyer's view on the red cards was robust.

"We're too pansy about our game. This is a game for men, lads. The fouls they were sent off for were crazy, but it's part and parcel and we just have to get on with it."

But he had consoling words for Fitzgerald, whose early goal set the tone for the match.

"He played top-class football, back to his real self today. It's amazing, isn't it? One Sunday a fella plays badly and the following week he's one of the best players on the pitch. But that's football or any sport. Horse or hound or man. They run badly today. They run great Sunday."

For his Offaly counterpart, Paul O'Kelly, the scene shifts rapidly. The team has a qualifier date in four days, but the good news is that they can't lose, as it's at home to London.

"We'll learn from this experience," he said. "You have to feel the pain of losing and there's no point in hiding it, but the next step is about just getting ourselves organised and being ready for the match on Saturday."