PREVIEW: Senior Hurlers Aim To Continue Positive League Start Against Offaly

By Conor Martin 

Image courtesy Matthew Burke

Dublin's Senior Hurlers go in search of a third successive Allianz League win when they take on Offaly at Croke Park this Saturday (5:15pm) in the first league meeting between the pair since 2019. 

Dublin beat Antrim on the opening day of the league season before we followed up that win with a victory on the road in Mullingar against Westmeath. 

In the win against Antrim, a goal from Conal Ó Riain as well as points from Cian O’Sullivan and Dara Purcell were key to Dublin's dominance. 

Dublin would emerge 14-point winners with O’Sullivan being our highest scorer with 0-13. John Hetherton, Conor Burke, Chris Crummey and Cillian Hayes also contributed to the Dubs tally.

Conor Donohoe and Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing got us up and running in our second game before Ó Riain scored his second senior goal in blue, funnily enough scoring in the ninth minute as he did against Antrim. 

Dublin motored along and went into half-time three to the good thanks to Darragh Power. Ó Dúlaing & Fergal Whitely only increased our lead, but Ó Riain was shown a straight red card in the 53rd minute,  with the game firmly in the balance. 

Thankfully the sending off didn’t disrupt the Dublin flow of scores and inside the final 10 minutes, Brendan Kenny, Ó Dúlaing, David Purcell and Daire Gray put the game to bed to preserve our 100% winning start. 

A win on Saturday would see Dublin top Division 1 of the Allianz Hurling League, as Niall Ó Ceallacháin looks to continue his good start as Dublin manager while aiming to grow the panel ahead of the Leinster Championship. 

Offaly go into our encounter this weekend at the top of the pile in Division 1, having played a game more than Dublin; they have a draw and two wins to show for so far in 2025. 

David Nally and Charlie Mitchell were key in their draw against Carlow, with Nally scoring an impressive 0-9. However, they took their foot off the gas and after the 60th minute, they didn’t trouble the scoreboard and Carlow were able to rescue a draw. 

Offaly were made to work against Laois and came from behind to register a first win of their Allianz Hurling League campaign; Brian Duignan scored 0-13, with 10 of those points coming from frees. Dan Ravenhill also impressed while Nally came off the bench and raised a three-pointer 60 seconds later as Offaly turned the screw and eventually won by nine points. 

Their most complete performance to date came in their 15-point win over Antrim, in which they strangled the Saffrons defence; points from Duignan, Killian Sampson, Ravenhill and Mitchell helped Offaly dominate and after a Ravenhill goal, Offaly were 1-14 to 0-7 up at the interval.

Duignan would finish with 0-11 for himself and his side, while Sampson would get the second Offaly goal and end up with 1-03. Mitchell also contributed well with 0-5. 

Just like Dublin, Offaly have plenty of attacking threats including Duignan and Mitchell and will give Dublin a run for their money, which sets up this weekend’s game nicely for the neutral and the Dublin & Offaly faithful. 

Dublin v Offaly last five Allianz Hurling League meetings:

●3rd February 2019, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, Allianz Hurling League Division 1B Round 2 - Offaly 0-12 (12) - 2-19 (25) Dublin

● 27th January 2018, Croke Park, Dublin, Allianz Hurling League Division 1B Round 1 - Dublin 1-15 (18) - 2-25 (31) Offaly

●23rd February 2013, Parnell Park, Dublin, Allianz Hurling League Division 1B Round 1 - Dublin 1-20 (23) - 2-16 (22) Offaly

●14th March 2010, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Round 3 - Offaly 3-19 (28) - 1-18 (21) Dublin

●18th April 2004, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, Allianz Hurling League Group 2 - 4-21 (33) - 2-6 (12) Offaly

You can buy tickets for this weekend’s game here.