Senior Hurlers Edge Past Offaly in Thrilling Leinster Championship Opener

Picture Courtesy Sportsfile

DUBLIN 1-25 

OFFALY 2-19

Dublin finished the contest in a dominant manner as they defeated Offaly by three points in their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 clash at Parnell Park on Saturday evening. 

Oisin Kelly’s 14th minute goal was the pivotal moment of a cagey first-half that finished withOffaly enjoying a 1-10 to 0-11 advantage by half-time.

The visitors maintained that buffer for the large part of the second-half but a 68th minute goal from Ronan Hayes levelled matters and they pushed on from that juncture through insurance points by Conor Donohoe, Brian Hayes and John Hetherton. 

It was Dónal Burke that opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with Dan Ravenhill landing a long-distance free a minute later to restore parity for Offaly. 

A Sean Currie point restored the home advantage a minute later and a well-worked move involving Paddy Dunleavy allowed Conor Burke the chance to double the Dublin lead by the 7th minute. 

While Brian Duignan replied for the visitors, the Dubs continued to impress defensively and were rewarded for their early control through points from Dónal Burke (‘65’) and Conor Donohoe. 

However, their momentum stalled in the 14th minute as an innocuous looking delivery from deep fell kindly into the path of Oisín Kelly, who swept home past Eddie Gibbons from close range.

Ravenhill and Dónal Burke exchanged frees either side of the first-quarter mark and while late replacement Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing edged the hosts back in front, Offaly’s growing confidence was reflected in a trio of Duignan frees by the 26th minute. 

The hosts kept in touch through a brace of Currie scores but Killian Sampson and Charlie Mitchell ensured that Offaly kept their scoreboard ticking over towards the end of the half. 

Cian O’Sullivan tested Mark Troy’s reflexes in added time but the Dubs faced a two-point interval despite a late Currie free.

Despite losing to Dónal Burke through injury at the break, Dublin resumed impressively through points from Currie (free), Chris Crummey and Donohoe to regain the lead by the 38th minute. 

However, their momentum stalled in an instant as Conor Burke appeared to have been fouled, but with no free forthcoming, Offaly worked the ball through to Killian Sampson, whose mistimed shot wrong footed Gibbons before rolling over the line.  

Brian Hayes and Conor Burke popped over points by way of riposte but a brace of Duignan scores inched Offaly three points ahead by the 48th minute. 

While Currie and Brian Hayes tagged on points for the hosts, it proved a poor return for a Dublin side that was dominating around the middle third but were becoming increasingly errant in their marksmanship. 

They managed to draw level by the 58th minute through a brace of Currie points but found themselves back facing a two-point deficit soon after with Ross Ravenhill and Daniel Bourke pointing for Offaly.

With the contest slipping from Dublin’s grasp, a lengthy delivery from Crummey saw Ronan Hayes crash home a superb goal and with the visitors increasingly bereft of ideas in the final stages, Dublin took control with a flurry of late scores.     

Dublin resume their provincial campaign when they host Wexford in Parnell Park next Saturday afternoon (4.30). 

Scorers – Dublin: S Currie 0-9 (5f); D Burke 0-4 (2f, 1 ’65), R Hayes 1-1; B Hayes, C Donohoe 0-3 each; C Burke 0-2; C Crummey, J Hetherton, D Ó Dúlaing 0-1 apiece. Offaly: B Duignan 0-8 (6f); K Sampson 1-2; D Ravenhill 0-5 (3f); O Kelly 1-1; R Ravenhill, D Bourke, C Mitchell 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: E Gibbons; J Bellew, P Smyth, A Dunphy; P Dunleavy, C Crummey, P Doyle; C Burke, C Donohoe; B Hayes, C O’Sullivan, D Burke; D Sutcliffe, S Currie, D Ó Dúlaing. Subs: R Hayes for Sutcliffe (23), F Whitely for D Burke (half-time), D Power for Ó Dúlaing (half-time), J Hetherton for Whitely (51), AJ Murphy for O’Sullivan (63). 

Offaly: M Troy; B Conneely, C Burke, P Cantwell; R Ravenhill, D Shirley, J Sampson; C King, D King; K Sampson, D Bourke, O Kelly; D Ravenhill, B Duignan, C Mitchell. Subs: E Cahill for Mitchell (51), C Spain for D King (55), C Kiely for R Ravenhill (58).  

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).