U20 Hurlers Beat Offaly To Reach O'Neills.com Leinster Semi Final

Image courtesy Paul Lundy

DUBLIN 4-12

OFFALY 0-17

Dublin delivered a superb second-half display as they accounted for Offaly by seven points in their Oneills.com Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship quarter-final at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge on Monday afternoon.

Dublin trailed by 0-9 to 1-3 at the interval as Adam Screeney scored six points from placed balls for Offaly with Callum Graham’s 26th minute goal a much-needed boost for the Dubs.

Further goals by Ollie Gaffney and Graham within seven minutes of the second-half saw Dublin take control of matters and Gaffney’s 57th minute goal was a fitting way for Dublin to progress to the last four.    

Senan Crosbie opened the scoring for Dublin in the 2nd minute before the holders struck back through points in quick succession by Dan Ravenhill and Shane Rigney.

A 5th minute free from Adam Screeney doubled the Offaly lead and while Daniel O’Kelly converted a free at the opposite end for Dublin, Screeney was on hand to restore his team’s two-point lead by the 8th minute.

O’Kelly added a superb score from distance two minutes later but another brace of Screeney frees pushed Offaly three points clear by the start of the second quarter.

Despite the strong defensive performances of Conor Groarke and Joe Sheppard, a number of wides at the opposite end undermined the Dublin challenge as two further placed balls by Screeney added to the Faithful lead.

Having been held scoreless for sixteen minutes, Dublin finally ended their barren spell in a fortuitous manner as Offaly netminder Liam Hoare failed to control an attempt from Callum Graham as the ball deflected into his own net.    

The Dubs missed a couple of chances to trim their deficit further in the closing stages of the half with a fine Ravenhill point leaving Offaly three points to the good by half-time.

Dublin could not have wished for a better start to the second-half as a clever free from O’Kelly found Ollie Gaffney and the Dublin captain turned sharply before leaving Hoare helpless with a clinical finish from twelve yards.

A Cathal Kennedy point added to Dublin’s momentum and they moved two points clear by the 38th minute as Conal Ó Riain’s pass from deep was superbly controlled by Graham, who raced through for a low finish into the bottom corner of the net.

Dublin’s belief was enhanced by those goals and they maintained their control of matters with Ó Riain, Brendan Kenny, Gaffney and Crosbie all adding points as the contest evolved.

Their opponents never looked likely to breach the Dublin defence as their challenge wilted in the Bank Holiday sunshine with James Norris, O’Kelly and Kenny adding inspirational scores for Dublin.

It was fitting that Dublin’s captain Gaffney should have the final word given his excellence in the second-half and he showed calmness and assuredness as he raced clear before putting the finishing touches to a dominant display by his side.      

Scorers – Dublin: O Gaffney 2-2; C Graham 2-0; D O’Kelly 0-3 (1f); B Kenny, S Crosbie 0-2 each; C Kennedy, C Ó Riain, J Norris 0-1 apiece. Offaly: A Screeney 0-8 (7f, 1 ’65); D Ravenhill 0-4 (1f); S Rigney 0-3; L Kavanagh, D Shirley 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: D Joyce; C Groarke, D Lucey, B Lynch; J Sheppard, C Ó Riain, K Costello; F Murphy, C Kennedy; S Crosbie, B Kenny, D O’Kelly; C Graham, D Kilduff, O Gaffney. Subs: J Norris for Kilduff (47), J Kinnane for Kennedy (60), S Bolger for Graham (63),   

Offaly: L Hoare; A Cleary, A Hogan, J Mahon; J O’Sullivan, B Kavanagh, D Shirley; L Kavanagh, N Furlong; S Rigney, D Ravenhill, C Doyle; P Lyons, C Egan, A Screeney. Subs: C Robinson for Lyons (39), H Sweeney for Cleary (47), E Bailey-O’Brien for Egan (53),

Referee: Padraig Dunne (Laois).