Offaly legend Laz Molloy on clashing with Colm O'Rourke and his fears for the Faithful if Meath get tactics right

Four years ago the Meath Chronicle brought out a book that was a survey of sport in the Royal County. Entitled 'Meath Life Through the Lens' the booklet contains two photographs that feature Offalyman Laz Molloy.

Laz or Laserian to give him his proper title (the name derives from a Co Carlow saint) was the goalkeeper of the Offaly team during much of the 1980s, occupying the number one jersey once worn by the legendary Martin Furlong.

In 1989 Offaly played Meath in the Leinster SFC and in one of the photos Colm O'Rourke is captured scoring a goal. A micro second after he had pulled the trigger and sent the ball to the net, O'Rourke ships a body-rattling, crunching tackle from Molloy. The tackle left O'Rourke crumpled in pain with the sequence brilliantly captured by the photographer.

O'Rourke recovered, eventually, and Meath went on to win, but Molloy wasn't the flavour of the month among the Royal County supporters. Not that that was the end of the story. There was to be a sequence.

Speaking to the Meath Chronicle while on a break in Spain last week, Molloy recalled that day back in the summer of '89 and the events of the following year when the two counties also met in the championship.

"Offaly were going quite well in that game in '89 and Colm Coyle kicked the ball towards our posts, he was going for a point. The ball hit the top of the bar, went back out and the bould Mr O'Rourke was waiting, stuck the ball in the net and the game was over then. I tackled him but for me it was a case of too little too late"

"In fairness I don't know if anybody got a picture of him the next year, but Mr O'Rourke returned the compliment. I was in the goals, Brian Stafford kicked in a free, the ball landed on the crossbar and of course I had to go for it. I was just after taking it down and heading out the field to get a kick away when I got this unmerciful bang on the shoulder. I wasn't able to lift my arm afterwards for about six weeks. It was the bould Colm. He returned the compliment all right."

The two men have met in recent years and no doubt they joked and laugh about the events of those great days when they were in their prime; when they were warriors and battling for the glory of their respective counties. Now the two teams meet again on Sunday and O'Rourke and Molloy may have another laugh together if their paths cross.

Laz Molloy grew up beside the Hill of Croghan, part of a large family. He played for the local club, St Brigid's, and Rhode too, another parish side. He started his senior inter-county career in the most extraordinary circumstances. In 1984 he was in Croke Park, sitting in the stand beside Seamus Darby scorer of THAT goal against Kerry two years previously.

Offaly were playing Longford in the Leinster SFC that day in '84 and Molloy and Darby were in Croke Park to support the Faithful County.

"Martin Furlong and Dinny Whynne were the goalkeepers on the panel. Martin seemingly got injured on the Saturday night and they weren't fully sure of the injury until they arrived in Dublin for the game," he recalls.

"Seamus and myself were in the Hogan when the word came over the PA: "If Laz Molloy is in the crowd could he make his way to the Offaly dressing room."

A pair of boots were found, Molloy togged out, played the second-half and Offaly, who were five points down at one stage, bounced back to win by five. He was on the Offaly team "on and off" until around 1990. Football, he wistfully observes, was a different game back then.

"As a goalkeeper at that time the further you could kick the ball the better chance you had of playing. Now it's all about accuracy and trying to get kick-outs away. Colm O'Rourke is a more traditionalist type of manager, he wants the ball quickly into the forwards, his uses big men and it's a much better watch. Sometimes this modern game, possession game, particularly played by the poorer teams, is not an easy watch. I know in Offaly there would be an awful hatred of this slower, what they call, defensive game."

Not long after that remarkable debut against Longford Molloy joined An Garda Siochana. He "passed out" in '86. His first posting was in Navan and he subsequently served in Enfield and Ballivor among other locations. While in Ballivor he was asked by the late, great Bertie Cunningham to coach the local football team for a year. Molloy was only too happy to help out.

An engaging and entertaining man, Molloy tells the tale of how one night a big row erupted in a Ballivor public house. Garda Molloy had to sort things out. Some time afterwards there was court case when events of the night were recalled. The report of the case in the Meath Chronicle had the classic headline: "War breaks out in unpoliced wilderness." Molloy laughs at the good of it all now.

He took early retirement from the Force and now is involved running the family business - McGreal's, Edenderry - selling furniture and household goods. He runs it with his wife Frances and daughter Aislinn.

As well as a talented rancontour Molloy is also a clear-minded football analyst and works with Midland Radio 103 covering the Offaly games. Few are better qualified to comment on Offaly football. He feels they have a chance on Sunday but he's concerned too.

"Offay are quite good on the ball, once they have the ball, but if teams push up on us we struggle to get the ball away. Meath have big men in their team and if Offaly have to kick it long I would worry about them.

"Last year in the league Meath drew but only with a goal four minutes into injury time. A don't think there will be a lot in it but Meath should win by two or three points."

When the action does start on Sunday Molloy might well reflect back to those days when he locked horns with O'Rourke & Co in the white heat of championship games. Ah yes, great days indeed.