Laois hurling manager Willie Maher has accused Offaly of undermining the integrity of the Joe McDonagh Cup by fielding a virtual second string team against Carlow last Saturday.

Having qualified for the final with a round to spare, Offaly made 12 changes for the trip to Netwatch Cullen Park and were duly beaten by 1-29 to 0-14 as Carlow – rather than Laois – joined them in the Croke Park decider on May 27.

Laois defeated Kerry by 4-23 to 0-21 in Austin Stack Park, but it was all in vain after Carlow’s emphatic victory put them out.

“It’s great to win, but it’s very disappointing what Offaly did,” a frustrated Maher told Midlands 103.

“We knew it was out of our hands, but I think the integrity of the competition [has been undermined]. The team that tops the group and makes 12 changes for the last game… it’s very disappointing. That was Offaly’s decision, they’re in the McDonagh Cup final and more power to them.”

Maher’s Offaly counterpart Johnny Kelly defended his decision to go with an experimental line-up in the last round.

“The narrative during the week was that we were putting out a second string team,” he said.

“Look, we had a lot of guys out there that needed game-time. We also have a lot of guys who are carrying injuries and it will be touch-and-go whether these guys will be ready for the final in two weeks’ time.”

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