WATCH: Cillian Sampson tears it up as Offaly minors reach Leinster semi-final

Considerable doom and gloom has surrounded Offaly hurling since the senior side's relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup earlier this summer but that cloud was well and truly lifted by the performance of the minor team in Saturday's Leinster quarter-final in O'Connor Park.

Laois were the opponents but Offaly led from start to finish in an accomplished display, and two stars of the future led from the front in the half-forward line. 

SEE MATCH REPORT: Offaly too strong for neighbours Laois in Leinster MHC quarter-final

The Laois defenders hassled and harried them, pulled them, dragged them, fouled them, and still couldn't tie down the talents of Cathal Kiely and Cillian Sampson. 

Kiely was his accurate self firing over ten frees and adding two points from play, but it was Cillian Sampson who had the run of O'Connor Park as he racked up 2-5 from open play. 

Between the two of them, Kiely and Sampson accounted for 2-17 of Offaly's 2-19 total, while Laois were stifled and forced to make do with a 1-14 total, with just 1-5 of that coming from play. 

Sampson found the net twice and on both occasions he blazed a trail through the heart of the Laois defence before firing to the net. In the video above, Sampson simply picks the pocket of a Laois defender, runs toward goal and finishes off the game in style. 

His five points from play weren't too shabby either and he cut an influential and stylish figure for Offaly throughout the game. 

Offaly will now play Kilkenny in the Minor Hurling Leinster Championship at Bord na Mona O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.