Minor footballers defeat Offaly in Leinster quarter-final

ELECTRIC IRELAND LEINSTER MFC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 3-12 OFFALY 0-6

A dominant second-half showing saw Dublin's minor footballers defeat hosts Offaly by 15-points in Saturday's Electric Ireland Leinster MFC (U17) quarter-final in O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

The young Dubs advance to meet Kildare, themselves 6-18 to 1-7 victors over Carlow, in the provincial semi-final in two week's time (July 24); Meath will face Louth (who defeated Laois 4-7 to 1-10 on Saturday) in the other semi-final.

Dublin held a two-point half-time lead (0-7 to 0-5) and while they conceded the opening score of the second half they eventually took control and hit 3-5 without reply to run out convincing winners.

The game turned in Dublin's favour in a few minutes in the third period.

In the sixth minute of the second half Offaly corner-forward Robbie Gallagher was denied a goal by the outstretched leg of Dublin goalkeeper Cathal Coghlan.

A few minutes later Dublin really sparked to life. Scott McConnell landed a free from over 45 metres to make it 0-9 to 0-6 after 39 minutes.

Yet by the water break Dublin were 2-9 to 0-6 clear after both Seán Gannon and Scott McConnell had goaled.

Impressive wing-back David Colbert made an interception as Offaly attempted to build an attack and he released Seán Gannon who sprinted clear of his marker and fired to the net.

Within a minute Scott McConnell brilliantly fielded a long delivery into the danger area and then applied a clinical finish.

By the water stoppage Seán Gannon could have had another goal but shot straight at Offaly netminder David Dunican.

Dublin kept the pressure on in the last quarter with Tadhg Gorman firing over following good work by Ross Mullarkey and midfielder Ciarán Duggan got forward to tag on a point. It was now 2-11 to 0-6.

In the 51st minute centre-forward Mark McNally was rewarded for all his hard graft when he linked with Seán Gannon to race through the middle of the Offaly defence and rattle the net.

Before the finish Seán Gannon got through on goal again but pulled his effort wide.

Dublin led 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time having had slightly the better of the opening half.

Luke Bourke opened the scoring for the hosts in the opening minute before Tadhg Gorman converted a free to get Dublin off the mark in the eighth minute.

Robbie Gallagher edged Offaly back in front when his goal attempt was blocked over by Dan Murphy.

But Dublin hit the next four points, the first coming from the influential Seán Gannon, following good graft by Clyde Burke, to make it 0-2 each at the first water break.

On the restart Dublin began a foothold in the middle sector and Tadhg Gorman pushed Dublin in front (0-3 to 0-2) when splitting the posts at the end of a good move.

Seán Gannon made it 0-4 to 0-2 when his high hanging effort dropped on top of the crossbar on its way over following good work from Eoghan O'Connor Flanagan.

Tadhg Gorman was on the mark again to put Dublin three points clear in the 21st minute as Dublin turned defence into attack.

Two Geordi O'Meara frees, after Dublin played themselves into trouble in their own defence, cut the gap to a point, 0-5 to 0-4, with five minutes of normal time remaining in the opening half.

Eoghan O'Connor Flanagan, following good work by Seán Gannon, and Tadhg Gorman with a well struck free from wide on the right after a foul on Scott McConnell put Dublin 0-7 to 0-4 ahead before Marcus Dalton closed the gap to two points before the half-time interval.

SCORERS - Dublin: T Gorman 0-6 (0-3f), S Gannon 1-3 (0-1f), S McConnell 1-1 (0-1f), M McNally 1-0, E O'Connor Flanagan, C Duggan 0-1 each. Offaly: G O'Meara 0-2 (0-2f), D Shirley, L Bourke, R Gallagher, M Dalton 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: C Coghlan; F Bruton, D Murphy, R Geoghegan; M Gardiner, G McEneaney, D Colbert; C Duggan, E O'Connor Flanagan; R Mullarkey, M McNally, C Burke; T Gorman, S Gannon, S McConnell. Subs: Z Delmar for Gardiner (inj 16), M O'Rowe for Mullarkey (48), E Kenny for McEneaney (52), K Flynn for Gorman (54), S McMahon for Burke (57).

OFFALY: D Dunican; J Mahon, B Heffernan, D Kilmurray; P Taaffe, D McKeon, A Daly; G O'Meara, D Shirley; C Guinan, M Dalton, L Bourke; C Dunican, C O'Reilly, R Gallagher. Subs: N Furlong for C Dunican (ht), D Bourke for O'Meara (38), D Thomas for Guinan (43), C Mahon for Kilmurray (48), A Screeney for O'Reilly (56).

REF: K O'Brien (Westmeath).