U20 hurlers hold off late Offaly battle to reach Leinster final

Tue, 20th July 2021

LEINSTER U20HC SEMI-FINAL

DUBLIN 2-15 OFFALY 1-15

Dublin's under-20 hurlers fended off a stirring Offaly comeback in Tuesday night's Leinster U20HC semi-final at Parnell Park.

The Dubs led by eight points, 2-13 to 0-11, at the second water break but were reeled back to just the minimum as the game moved into added time.

However, Dublin showed good nerve to strike the concluding two points of this great contest through Cian Boyle and a Ciarán Foley '65' to hold on for victory and set up a provincial decider against Galway (next Tuesday night in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise).

Dublin had started the game in an electric fashion to lead 1-5 to 0-1 within just eight minutes with the impressive Dara Purcell tallying 1-3 from play.

Early points from Liam Dunne, Ciarán Foley (free) and the elusive Dara Purcell settled Seán Power's side before Purcell punished a mistake in the Offaly defence to fire to the net in the fifth minute.

However, the freetaking of Offaly's Jack Screeney brought his side back into the contest and by the first-half water break it was 1-5 to 0-6.

Dublin hit the ground running on the restart with a Ciarán Foley free before the same player converted a penalty, following a foul on Pádhraic Linehan, as Dublin moved six points clear, 2-6 to 0-6.

By the half-time interval Dublin had extended their advantage to seven points, 2-9 to 0-8, after points at the close of the first half from Dara Purcell (two) and Ciarán Foley (free).

There was still little sign of Offaly's fightback by the three-quarter marker as scores from Ciarán Foley (two frees), Kevin Lahiff and Donal Leavy had them still seven points to the good, 2-13 to 0-11.

Then came the Offaly scoring surge with Charlie Mitchell's goal igniting the Faithful County and they tagged on four points to leave just one point between the sides are the game ticked into the six minutes of added time.

Dublin, however, regained their composure with scores from Cian Boyle and Ciarán Foley's '65' deciding the contest.

SCORERS – Dublin: C Foley 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5f, 0-1 65), D Purcell 1-5, L Dunne, D Leavy, K Lahiff, C Boyle 0-1 each.Offaly: J Screeney 0-6 (0-6f), C Mitchell 1-0, C Kiely 0-3 (0-2f), R Cleary 0-2 (0-1f), C Burke, J Ryan, DJ McLoughlin, N Lyons 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: B Hynes; D Crowe, B Sheehy, I Ó hEithir; P Doyle, C Ó Cathasaigh, P Dunleavy; D Power, D Leavy; D McBride, S Fenton, P Linehan; C Foley, L Dunne, D Purcell. Subs: E Moran for Ó Cathasaigh (25), K Lahiff for McBride (37), P Christie for Linehan (48), C Boyle for Dunne (48), J Flanagan for Ó hEithir (62).

OFFALY: A Fitzgerald; C Hardiman, A Flanagan, P Cleary; P Watkins, K Sampson, D Maher; C Burke, J Screeney; L Egan, T Dooley, L Nolan; DJ McLoughlin, J Ryan, C Mitchell. Subs: N Lyons for Flanagan (20), C Kiely for Cleary (ht), R Cleary for Dooley (43), J Hoctor for Ryan (62).

REF: G McGrath (Wexford).