DESPITE lining out without six of their established side due to injuries and then losing Johnny. Dooley after only 16 minutes, Offaly assured themselves of a place in the play offs by defeating a battling Laois side in Tullamore.

After a much improved performance, Laois, already relegated, showed of better things to come in the championship. Had it not been for some erratic shooting by their forwards, they could well have broken their losing sequence and caused a major upset. As it was, however, they wasted too many scoring opportunities.

Offaly had four points on the scoreboard without reply by the eighth minute despite playing against a strong breeze. Laois had to wait a further three minutes before opening their account through corner forward Tomas Kenna.

Lao is fullforward Owen Coss put a halt to Offaly's gallop by getting through for a 15th minute goal which infused some enthusiasm into the visitors. He struck again two minutes before the break with a second goal to give Laois a 2-5 to 0-8 interval advantage.

That lead, however, was never going to be sufficient to sustain Laois against the wind and after the change of ends they managed just one further point. Nevertheless, their dogged defence curbed the Offaly forwards so that it was not until the 45th minute that the home side drew level at 0-12 to 2-6.

Further points in the closing quarter from Paudie Mulhare, Gary Cahill and impressive substitute Killian Farrell decided the issue.