What a journey it's been for Laois. After coming within one game of relegation to the Christy Ring Cup in 2018, their fortunes could hardly have been more different this year.
Under the tutelage of Eddie Brennan, they put together a cracking run in the Joe McDonagh Cup. That would ultimately end with a comfortable win over Westmeath in the final, and they thoroughly deserved to get their hands on the trophy.
They weren't finished there. Laois would go on to pull off one of the biggest shocks in the hurling championship in years, defeating Dublin in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter final.
That was no fluke, and nobody could argue with the result on the day.
Coming up against Tipperary today, and playing for the third week on the trot, most expected they would be outclassed by the Munster side. While the game would ultimately end in defeat, it was a cracking performance from Laois.
They kept within striking distance for most of the contest, only for a controversial red card to take the sting out of their challenge. Ten points would be the margin in the end, but that did not tell the full story of the game.
The Laois supporters, the rest of the hurling fans in the stadium, and the Tipp team were all hugely impressed by what they saw from the underdogs.
They would show their appreciation at the end of the game, and the Laois lads were loving it.
'Go again next year' - Laois half back Jack Kelly accepts his Man of the Match award pic.twitter.com/BFY5hDb4W9
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 14, 2019
Tipperary players applauded Laois at the end of today's All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/s8buS629Dp
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 14, 2019
I think it was a heroic display. I watching Lee Cleere, a corner back, he was cramping with 15 minutes to go. Yet, with five minutes to go he was getting back, diving in and getting a flick.
I think that just typified their performance. They never gave up, they used the five subs.
Jack Kelly going in there after getting man of the match, a jersey that he probably treasured. He's given it to some youngster, it's captured the imagination. Hopefully those younger players will be the ones coming up and bringing Laois back to where they should be.
