Offaly and Dublin all square after O'Connor Park thriller
A breathtakingly entertaining game, full of twists and turns, ended with a fair result as Offaly and Dublin settled for a point in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship opener in Tullamore on Saturday evening.
Both sides had their chances to win and Offaly will harbour some regrets but a draw was a fair result and it is one that home side would gladly have taken before the game.
Donal Burke got the final equaliser in the 72nd minute and Dublin were very grateful to get it as they had stared a devastating defeat in the face just moments earlier when Offaly had a great goal chance to win it. Shane Rigney bore down on goal but Sean Brennan made a great save, though the Offaly debutant will feel he should have got the goal. A free for an earlier foul was awarded and Adam Screeney converted to put Offaly on the verge of a famous win.
Dublin got the result and while some of their supporters will look on this as a dropped point and a substandard display, this is not giving the due merit to a fired up Offaly who played out of their skins – even when they went into the red inside the closing quarter.
It was a thrilling game of hurling, springing to life in the 11th minute when a Brian Hayes goal was cancelled out immediately by one from Brian Duignan. All of that left Dublin leading by 1-04 to 1-03 and there was almost nothing in it from here to the interval.
Charlie Mitchell scoring his side's fourth goal
Dublin's forwards were very sharp and some of their collective link play was superb, yet Offaly were level at 1-07 each after 18 minutes. The visitors led by 1-11 to 1-08 after 21 minutes and Offaly were in survival mode for a few minutes as Dublin were regularly opening them up.
They were 1-15 to 1-11 ahead after 29 minutes, 1-16 to 1-12 two minutes later and deserved that lead at that stage. Offaly, however, turned the tide with Dan Bourke getting a good point and Shane Rigney scoring a sensational 32nd minute goal after racing into the heart of the Dublin defence. It was now a draw and points from Brian Hayes and Donal Burke (free) gave Dublin a 1-18 to 2-13 half time lead.
A super Adam Screeney goal levelled it at 3-13 to 1-19 in the 36th minute but Dublin replied immediately through Conoe Donohoe. Charlie Mitchell made a fantastic return to action for Offaly after sitting out the league because of a heart scare. He scored 1-03 and his 43rd minute goal levelled it at 4-15 to 2-21. Adam Screeney pointed to put Offaly ahead and now it was Dublin in survival mode.
Dónal Burke celebrates after scoring the late equaliser
Points from Fergal Whitely and Ronan Hayes gave them the lead but three in a row put Offaly 4-19 to 2-23 ahead with 565 minutes gone. They were level at 2-26 to 4-20 in the 67th minute. Mitchell and Burke (free) exchanged points and in a thrilling finish, Adam Screeney and Donal Burke exchanged late points to ensure both sides take a point.
Offaly: Liam Hoare (0-01, f); Patrick Taaffe, Ben Conneely, Brecon Kavanagh; Ross Ravenhill, Killian Sampson, Ter Guinan (0-01); Dan Ravenhill (0-01), Cathal King; Shane Rigney (1-00), Dan Bourke (0-03), Conor Doyle (0-01); Charlie Mitchell (1-03), Brian Duignan (1-02), Adam Screeney (1-09, 8f).
Subs: Colin Spain (0-01) for King (HT), Ciaran Burke for Kavanagh (HT), Jack Clancy for Guinan (65m), Oisin Kelly for Dan Ravenhill (68m),
Dublin: Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Conor McHugh; Eoghan O'Donnell, Chris Crummey (0-01), Conor Burke (0-04); Paddy Doyle (0-01), Conor Donohoe (1-02); Fergal Whitely (0-02), Brian Hayes (1-01), Darragh Power (0-02); John Hetherton, Donal Burke (0-11 9f), Cian O'Sullivan (0-02).
Subs: Ronan Hayes (0-01) for Doyle (47m), Andy Dunphy for McHugh (54m), Dara Purcell (0-01) for Donoghue (65m),
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
