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DUBLIN 2-17
OFFALY 1-13
Dublin got their Dalata Leinster Under 20 Football Championship campaign back on track as they overcame Offaly by seven points in their Group 1 Round 2 encounter at The Faithful Fields on Wednesday evening.
Having lost narrowly to Meath a week previously, the Dubs should clinch a place in the knockout stages should they defeat Westmeath in their final group game at Parnell Park next Wednesday night (7.30).
Dublin held a narrow 1-9 to 1-8 lead at the turnaround with Joe Quigley’s clinical strike in the 9th minute cancelled out to a degree by Jack Daly’s goal at the opposite end five minutes before the break.
A strong third quarter saw Dublin hold their opponents scoreless and a goal five minutes from time from the hugely influential Paddy Kelly completed a deserved win for the Dubs.
It was the hosts that opened the scoring through a Kaelum Bryan free in the 2nd minute and the Edenderry attacker doubled his team’s advantage with another placed ball three minutes later.
Dublin were sloppy in possession at times in the early stages but they clicked into gear in the 8th minute as a fine move involving Paddy Kelly and Pierce Donohue culminated in Quigley firing home to the roof of the net from close range.
Donohue and Kelly accounted for Dublin’s next two scores with Niall Furlong recordingOffaly’s first score from play in the 9th minute before Bryan kicked his third free of the opening quarter four minutes later.
Kelly kicked a brace of points either side of the first-quarter mark, the second following a typically strong burst by Charlie McMorrow, and a two-pointed effort from Paul Reynolds Hand pushed the visitors five points clear by the 17th minute.
Bryan and Quigley exchanged frees as the half progressed and despite Senan Ryan adding to the Dublin tally, it was the hosts that finished the half on the front foot, inspired as they were by the influence of Dara Bates from wing-forward.
A Jack Daly goal in the 25th minute halved the Offaly deficit and a two-pointed free from goalkeeper Conor Melia ensured there was just the bare minimum between the sides by the interval.
Dublin resumed in a determined manner with McMorrow doubling their lead in the 32nd minute before Kelly kicked his fourth point of the contest three minutes later.
Points by substitute Rian Doherty and Quigley enhanced Dublin’s control of affairs and the former pushed the visitors six points clear by the end of the third quarter, with Reynolds Hand the provider on this occasion.
Bryan finally opened Offaly’s second-half account when pointing in the 47th minute and their comeback hopes were boosted by a two-pointed score from Cillian Foran three minutes later.
Successive scores from Clyde Burke and Quigley (free) helped stall Offaly’s brief momentum but substitute Foran left just three points between the sides as he kicked another two-pointed score in the 55th minute.
It was fitting that Kelly should settle any Dublin nerves as the Skerries Harps player pounced for an insurance goal two minutes later with Ryan completing the scoring with a fisted effort a minute from time.
Scorers – Dublin: J Quigley (0-2f), P Kelly 1-4 each; P Reynolds Hand (2PT), S Ryan, R Doherty 0-2 each; P Donohue, C McMorrow, C Burke 0-1 apiece. Offaly: K Bryan 0-5 (4f); C Foran 0-4 (2 2PT); J Daly 1-0; C Melia 0-3 (2PT F, ‘45’); N Furlong 0-1.
Dublin: A Lee; E Brady, D Murphy, J Brady; J Smith, C McMorrow, R Mitchell; S Hickey, S Ryan; P Reynolds Hand, P Kelly, C Burke; P Donohoe, J Quigley, L O’Boyle. Subs: R Doherty for Smith (half-time); S Mullarkey for P Donohue (36), D Kettle for Reynolds Hand (51), J McCormack for Kelly (58), O Donohue for Burke (61).
Offaly: C Melia; J Daly, C McKeon, P Kenna; Jake Maher, J Colgan, H Goulding; D O’Rourke, E Dunne; S Doran, N Furlong, D Bates; C Bracken, L Kelly, K Bryan. Subs: Jack Maher for Colgan (19), C Foran for Doran (43), B Carroll for Bracken (43), B Quinn for Kelly (47), C Keogh for Daly (53).
Referee: Colm McCullough (Louth).