The Gaels of Ireland love a good dummy, it has to be said.
Ruairí Canavan's audacious piece of skill against Glen last November hit the mainstream, garnering millions of views and it was shared widely by the likes of ESPN's Sportscenter.
The latest instance in this fantastic genre appeared on Saturday evening, during the Allianz Hurling League meeting of Laois and Waterford at Laois Hire O'Moore Park.
Stephen Maher pulls off outrageous piece of skill against Waterford
During the second-half, Laois forward Stephen 'Picky' Maher burst out to the 45 to collect a pass. Shaping to take a shot off his right side, he drew Conor Gleeson into his trap, before flicking the sliotar over his head and proceeding on his way. He duly stuck it over the bar, unimpeded, to give Willie Maher's outfit the lead early in the second-half.
Hurling filth here from Picky Maherpic.twitter.com/yhXzI80sK0
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 11, 2023
The Clough–Ballacolla man notched 0-7 in total for the O'Moore County, as the Déise were forced to play the majority of the contest with 14 players, following Michael Kiely's dismissal in the sixth minute.
That was as good as it got for the home side, however, as Davy Fitzgerald's charges asserted control of the game, eventually winning out 2-31 to 2-19. Despite their promising position, Laois were unable to make it a happy reunion for their new selector Dan Shanahan against his native county.
Nonetheless, Maher's dummy and score was worth the admission fee alone for the healthy crowd in Portlaoise.
Here's hoping Gleeson will be able to take being on the receiving end of a sumptuous dummy in the same spirit as Ryan Dougan, who bought Canavan's fake.
Win some, lose some🤝😅😅 https://t.co/oLs6DKGvo7
— Ryan Dougan (@dougieled) November 13, 2022
Things will not get any easier for Laois in the coming weeks as they battle to avoid relegation, with Kilkenny coming to town in two weeks' time, before what is likely to be a campaign-defining trip to Corrigan Park to face Antrim in Round Four.
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