Laois hurling manager Eddie Brennan was pleased with the application of his players after falling to a two-point defeat to Dublin in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup encounter at O’Moore Park.
Midway through the opening the first half, Laois found themselves six points adrift, but fought back and were on level terms at the interval.
It was nip and tuck throughout the second half, and they nudged ahead by the bare minimum in the 50th minute.
Mattie Kenny’s side however claimed five of the subsequent seven scores to seal a 1-18 to 1-16 victory for the Dubs, but Brennan was relatively happy given the strength of opposition and the time of year.
"Unfortunately it’s not a win, but performance is the word we zoned in on today," he told RTÉ Sport. "I’d be quite pleased with how we applied ourselves, that’s all you can ask for this time of year.
"It’s a case of rolling up the sleeves and getting stuck in. It’s a test of what’s in lads' hearts and heads."
Brennan, in his first year at the helm of the O’Moore County, believes the result could easily have swing the home team’s way.
"That match was there for us," he insisted. "Coming down the straight they dug in and we had a chance to get something out of that game. Maybe a little bit of fatigue set in, a few balls hopped out of lads’ hands here and there.
"All in all, I’m very pleased with how the lads applied themselves."
Laois are now preparing for Division 1B of the Allianz League where they will face Carlow, Dublin, Galway, Waterford and Offaly.
The O'Moore County open their campaign with a six-day turnaround in games against Waterford and Galway. Added to that are potentially three Fitzgibbon Cup games for some students within his squad.
"I don’t know where that sits with player welfare. I think there is very little any management team can do," he said.
"I’m not waving a white flag, that’s the reality here. We just have to get on with it."
