Senior hurlers protect status with victory over Offaly

Sun, 3rd June 2018

DUBLIN 2-24 OFFALY 0-13

A dominant scoring spell either side of half-time saw Dublin cruise to a 17-point victory in this crucial Leinster SHC round-robin clash at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon in front of a crowd of about 6,000.

This victory ensures Dublin of Leinster SHC status for the summer of 2019 ahead of next Saturday’s clash with Galway in Salthill.

The Tribemen have already booked their berth in the provincial decider whereas even a victory for Dublin won’t secure them a place in the knockout stages, owing to their head-to-head record in this year’s campaign to date.

Dublin were eight-point interval lead, following a late Paul Ryan goal, following good work by Chris Crummey and Liam Rushe, and within three minutes of the restart Fergal Whitely had grabbed Dublin’s second goal to make it 2-10 to 0-6 and Pat Gilroy’s men were well on top.

Points from Liam Rushe and Jake Malone, following great work by Paddy Smyth and Conal Keaney, moved Dublin further in front and when Fionntán Mac Gib and Shane Barrett fired over it was 2-14 to 0-6 after 43 minutes.

Dublin never looked back with Rushe and Keaney getting in on scoring act in the 46^th minute and then three minutes later Dublin keeper Alan Nolan denied Offaly even a glimmer of hope when denying Joe Bergin from the penalty spot.

The Dubs could start running in subs with one of them Cian Boland making some positive contributions including two late points from play.

Dublin held a 1-10 to 0-5 lead at the break with the goal coming in the second minute of added time when Paul Ryan found the net.

Crucially the Dubs finished the opening half on the up with points from the excellent Chris Crummey (29^th minute) and then scores from Fergal Whitely and the influential Shane Barrett as the game moved into injury-time.

Prior to that there was little between the counties with Dublin always in front though following Crummey’s ninth minute point to edge his side 0-3 to 0-2 ahead.

A Paul Ryan free and point from play from Barrett made it 0-5 to 0-2 by the 14^th minute.

SCORERS – Dublin: P Ryan 1-5 (0-4f), S Barrett, C Crummey 0-4 each, F Whitley 1-1, L Rushe, J Malone, C Keaney, C Boland 0-2 each, F Mac Gib, R McBride 0-1 each. Offaly: J Bergin 0-4 (0-4f), D Currams, P Murphy, S Dooley (0-2f) 0-2 each, J Gorman, E Cahill, K Dunne 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; P Smyth, C O'Callaghan, E O'Donnell; C Crummey, S Moran, S Barrett; R McBride, J Malone; F Mac Gib, CKeaney, D Sutcliffe; F Whitley, L Rushe, P Ryan. Subs: C Boland for Whitley (50), T Connolly for McBride (55), D Treacy for Keaney (56), J McCaffrey for Mac Gib (61f), P Winters for Rushe (63).

OFFALY: E Cahill; D O'Toole Greene, B Conneely, T Spain; D Shortt, P Camon, D King; D Currams, D Egan; S Kinsella, C Egan, T Geraghty; S Ryan, C Mahon, J Bergin. Subs: S Dooley for Ryan (42), K Dunne for Kinsella (48), R Hughes for D Egan (48), P Murphy for C Egan (48), J Gorman for Bergin (55).

REF: C Lyons (Cork).