Offaly 1-17 Laois 0-15
Shane Dooley pointed the way as Offaly bounced back from their opening loss to deservedly defeat neighbours Laois by 1-17 to 0-15 at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.
And Offaly achieved the win despite playing almost half the match with 14 men, but Laois were unable to make their numerical superiority count.
Offaly had the wind behind them in the opening half and led by 0-09 to 0-6 at the break.
Both teams found the heavy conditions difficult to manage with the wind and rain making this a big test for these two sides, both of whom were trying to recover from opening weekend losses.
Eamonn Kelly’s men enjoyed a good start with an early free from Dooley and a good point from play by Joey O’Connor.
But Laois, shocked by Kerry in Portlaoise in the opening round, settled and a point from late replacement Ross King and a couple of frees from Ross King edged them 0-03 to 0-02 in front after 13 minutes.
Paddy Murphy levelled for Offaly after 18 minutes and a free from Dooley and one from play from captain Colin Egan pushed Offaly 0-05 to 0-03 ahead after 20 minutes before Stephen Maher pulled one back for Laois.
Dooley hit three in a row for Offaly from a 65, a free and play to lead by double scores at 0-08 to 0-04 five minutes from the break but two long range frees from goalkeeper Enda Rowland, either side of another effort from Dooley, left three between them at the break.
Laois outscored Offaly by 0-04 to 0-01 in the opening six minutes if the second-half to tie the match at 0-10 apiece and Offaly, facing into the wind, had their task further increased when midfielder Joey O’Connor got a red card for a wild pull.
But Dooley’s accuracy kept Offaly in front and Murphy landed his second point for them to lead by 0-14 to 0-11 going into the final quarter of the contest.
Laois drafted in Zane Keenan and Willie Hyland to their attack but while King and Hyland scored points, Dooley again found the range and Shane Kinsella hit a good point to leave three between them 12 minutes from the end.
Dooley was off target with a couple of difficult frees but he extended the gap to four points five minutes from time with another free.
And they sealed the win in the final minute when sub Liam Langton blasted home a goal from the right.
Offaly: J Dempsey; N Wynne, C McDonald, S Gardiner; D Shortt, D Kelleher, P Camon; S Ryan, J O’Connor (0-01); P Murphy (0-02), C Egan (0-01), S Kinsella (0-01); S Dooley (0-12, 0-07f, 0-01 65), J Bergin, J Mulrooney.
Subs used: J Gorman for J Mulrooney (25 mins), P Guinan for Kelleher (51 mins), L Langton (1-00) for Gorman (61 mins), J Sampson for Ryan (70 mins), S Cleary for Murphy (70+2 mins)
Laois: E Rowland (0-02f); D Palmer, D Maher, C Healy; L Bergin, N Foyle, R Mullaney; T Delaney, M Whelan; P Purcell, S Maher (0-03), C Collier; R King (0-02), W Dunphy, PJ Scully (0-05f).
Subs used: B Reddin for Purcell (49mins) Z Keenan (0-02, 0-01f, 0-001 65) for Dunphy (53 mins), W Hyland (0-01) for Collier (54 mins), C Stapleton for Delaney (58 mins), M Kavanagh for Scully (70 mins).
Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).
