Dublin Senior Hurlers open their Leinster Hurling Championship with a draw

DUBLIN 2-28 

OFFALY 4-22

Dónal Burke clipped over a superb levelling score deep into injury time as Dublin and Offaly shared the spoils in their thrilling Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 encounter at Glenisk O’Connor Park on Saturday evening.

The first-half was a hectic, free-flowing affair with Brian Hayes netting for Dublin but goals at the opposite end from Brian Duignan and Shane Rigney saw Offaly trail by just 1-18 to 2-13 by the turnaround.  

Further goals from Adam Screeney and Charlie Mitchell saw the hosts seize the initiative after the break but Burke’s brilliant late strike saw Dublin escape with a point that could prove crucial as the championship develops.  

Dublin made two late changes to their line-up with John Bellew and Dónal Burke coming in from the start and it was the latter that opened the scoring through a free in the first minute.

Conor Burke doubled that lead in an instant before the hosts got on the board thanks to Screeney’s 6th minute free before Dónal Burke replied in kind for the visitors soon after.  

Burke’s third free of the half edged the Dubs two points clear and while Conor Doyle replied for the hosts, the visitors pounced for the game’s opening goal in the 12th minute as Hayes fired home from eight yards after advantage was played for a foul on John Hetherton. 

Offaly’s response to this setback was immediate as Screeney eluded Eoghan O’Donnell down the end line and his well-timed pass was buried to the empty net by Duignan. 

The scores were coming thick and fast now with Darragh Power, Conor Donohoe and Chris Crummey all pointing for Dublin while Dan Ravenhill, Ter Guinan, Duignan and Dan Bourke replied in kind for the Faithful. 

The Dubs edged into a three-point lead by the 22nd minute with O’Donnell, Paddy Doyle and Cian O’Sullivan all on target and a trio of Burke frees kept them on the front foot as the contest evolved. 

Offaly continue to offer a threat up front, as reflected in a brace of points from Charlie Mitchell and they drew level by the 33rd minute as Rigney raced down the middle and fired home from distance past Seán Brennan.

Dublin regrouped through scores from Hayes and Dónal Burke (free) as they finished the breathless opening half leading by two points. 

There was no respite for the umpires upon the restart as Screeney raced clear for a levelling goal in the 37th minute only for Dublin to net from their next attack as Power fed Donohoe for an improvised finish. 

Conor Burke managed two points from wing-back but the Dubs remained vulnerable at the back and a well-worked home move culminated in Mitchell pulling past Brennan to level the scores by the 44th minute. 

While Fergal Whitely and Dónal Burke clipped over points for Dublin, Offaly began to edge clear by the three-quarter mark as Bourke and Screeney scored to open up a deserved two-point buffer. 

Dónal Burke and Screeney exchanged points as we entered the final ten minutes with some patient Dublin play seeing them restore parity by the 68th minute through scores from Conor Burke and substitute Dara Purcell. 

Brennan made a superb save in added time to deny Rigney but with advantage being played, Screeney popped over the resultant free but Burke had the final say on what was an equitable conclusion to a dramatic affair.    

The Dubs will continue their campaign when hosting Kildare in Parnell Park next Sunday afternoon (3.00). 

Scorers – Dublin: D Burke 0-12 (9f); B Hayes, C Donohoe 1-1 each; C Burke 0-4; D Power, C O’Sullivan, F Whitely 0-2 each; C Crummey, E O’Donnell, P Doyle, D Purcell 0-1 apiece. Offaly: A Screeney 1-9 (0-8f); C Mitchell 1-3; B Duignan 1-2; S Rigney 1-0; D Bourke 0-3; C Doyle, D Ravenhill, T Guinan, L Hoare (f), C Spain 0-1 apiece. 

Dublin: S Brennan; E O’Donnell, P Smyth, J Bellew; C McHugh, C Crummey, C Burke; P Doyle, C Donohoe; F Whitely, B Hayes, D Power; D Burke, J Hetherton, C O’Sullivan. Subs:R Hayes for Doyle (48), A Dunphy for McHugh (55), D Purcell for Donohoe (66).  

Offaly: L Hoare; P Taaffe, B Conneely, B Kavanagh; R Ravenhill, K Sampson, T Guinan; D Ravenhill, C King; S Rigney, D Bourke, C Doyle; C Mitchell, B Duignan, A Screeney. Subs: C Spain for King (half-time), C Bourke for Kavanagh (half-time), O Kelly for Mitchell (Temp, 52-55), J Clancy for Guinan (65), O Kelly for D Ravenhill (69).  

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).