Minor hurlers turn attention to Offaly clash in Parnell Park

Dublin minor hurlers will be hoping to bounce back from last week's narrow defeat to Kilkenny when they host Offaly in Parnell Park this Saturday (2.0) in the Leinster MHC Tier 1 Round 2.

The Dubs were reeled in by Kilkenny last Saturday in Nowlan Park with the Cats emerging one-point victors, 0-15 to 2-8, their winning score coming in the 59th minute.

Playing into a very strong wind in the second half Dublin defended brilliantly at times but the pressure eventually told in the last few minutes.

It took the Cats the entire second period to eventually overhaul Dublin, after the visitors had led 2-5 to 0-7 at the half-time interval.

Dublin's two goals came in quick succession just inside the last ten minutes of the opening half.

The first arrived in the 21st minute when Adam Waddick did will in defence before midfielder Conal O Tuathaill showed good pace and angled the sliotar into Luke Swan. The powerful Castleknock lad had plenty still to go after winning possession but showed good goal-scoring instinct when firing to the net from ten metres.

That score brought the sides level, 1-3 to 0-6, with five of Kilkenny's scores coming from the deadball accuracy of Billy Drennan.

Two minutes later Dublin showed a clinical touch again when Ben McSweeney struck a stunning shot to the roof of Alan Rafter's net following good approach work by Waddick and McSweeney.

Looking ahead to this Saturday's game against the Faithful County, who lost to Wexford by a goal in their opener, in Parnell Park manager Mike Connolly said: "We have Offaly to look forward to next Saturday and I would imagine that it will be similarly tight.

"They were unfortunate to lose to Wexford at the weekend and it's juat a case of us taking stock at training this week and seeing how all the lads are.

"We certainly won't take Offaly lightly as we are fully aware of their caliber and all games in Tier 1 will be keenly-contested I would imagine.

"Once we have played both Offaly and Wexford, we'll have a better idea of where we are but I would say that there is very little to separate the top teams across the country at the minute."

ELECTRIC IRELAND LEINSTER MHC -ROUND 2

SATURDAY, MAY 4

Bellefield Enniscorthy (2.0): Wexford v Kilkenny Ref: Shane Guinan (Offaly)

Parnell Park (2.0): Dublin v Offaly Ref: Barry Redmond (Wexford)

St Conleth's Park Newbridge (2.0): Kildare v Laois Ref: Joe Deehan (Offaly)

NGDC Abbotstown (1.0): Antrim v Westmeath Ref: Kevin Brady (Louth)

NGDC Abbotstown (3.0): Down v Meath Ref: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)