Dublin 2-17
Offaly 0-13
DUBLIN GOT THEIR provincial campaign off to a winning start when overcoming Offaly by 2-17 to 0-13 in their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC Round 2 encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors started in the ascendancy and they raced into a four point lead inside as many minutes thanks to points from Liam Langton, Ciaran Cleary, Conor Molloy and JP Cleary.
Dublin gradually began to find their collective feet thanks to Mark Maguire’s 5th minute point and a brace of fine scores by Fergal Whitely trimmed Dublin’s deficit to the bare minimum by the end of the first quarter.
Offaly struggled for possession from this stage with Dublin centre-back Paddy Smyth to the fore but they managed to build on their lead through successive scores by Molloy and Oisin Kelly.
However, the hosts finished the half strongly with Gavin King’s sideline a two frees by his club-mate Matthew Oliver ensuring a slender 0-8 to 0-7 interval advantage for Dublin.
Dublin maintained that momentum upon the restart through points from Oliver, Whitely and Eoghan Dunne with their opponents hanging in through placed balls from Molloy.
However, the contest was effectively settled eight minutes from time as Dunne gathered a Whitely delivery before crashing a rising shot beyond the helpless William Malone from eight yards.
With Cleary dismissed for a wild pull in the 57th minute, Dublin added gloss to the final scoreline as King added their second goal a minute later to help confirm a ten point win for Johnny McGuirk’s charges.
Scorers for Dublin: Eoghan Dunne 1-2, Matthew Oliver 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Gavin King 1-1 (0-1 sideline), Fergal Whitely 0-3, Mark Maguire 0-2, Ciaran Brady, Conor Burke (0-1f), Ciaran Dowling, Carl Sammon 0-1 apiece.
Scorers for Offaly: Conor Molloy 0-6 (0-5f), Liam Langton 0-3, Ciaran Cleary, JP Cleary, Oisin Kelly, Eoghan Cahill 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Eoin Skelly (Na Fianna) – Capt
2. Cian Hendricken (Naomh Mearnóg)
3. Ciaran Brady (Faughs)
4. Conor Ryan (Craobh Chiaráin)
5. Eoin Foley (Naomh Olaf)
6. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf)
7. Oisin Lanigan (St Vincent’s)
9. Carl Sammon (Craobh Chiaráin)
15. Matthew Oliver (Na Fianna)
8. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes)
11. Mark Maguire (St Jude’s)
12. Conor Burke (St Vincent’s)
10. Alex Considine (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Gavin King (Na Fianna)
13. Eoghan Dunne (St Brigid’s)
Subs
19. Ciaran Dowling (Lucan Sarsfields) for Lanigan (half-time).
24. Eoghan Conroy (St Maur’s) for Burke (37).
20. Cian O’Sullivan (St Brigid’s) for Sammon (43).
22. Jack McVeigh (Lucan Sarsfields) for Considine (46).
17. Daire Gray (Whitehall Colmcille ) for Foley (59).
Offaly
1. William Malone (Coolderry)
2. Cathal O’Brien (Shamrocks)
3. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s)
4. Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty)
5. Shaun Lowry (Kilcormack/Killoughey)
6. Jack Fogarty (Ballinamere/Durrow)
7. Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh)
8. Michael Gilligan (Seir Kieran)
9. Conor Molloy (Coolderry)
12. Oisin Kelly (Belmont)
11. JP Cleary (Shinrone)
10. Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone)
15. Liam Langton (Na Fianna)
14. Eoghan Cahill (Birr) – Capt
13. John Murray (Drumcullen)
Subs
17. Jack Dooley (Tullamore) for E Kelly (45)
20. David Buckley (Na Fianna) for Murray (53)
23. Cathal Curran (Na Fianna) for O’Brien (57)
Referee: Michael O’Sullivan (Kilkenny)
Originally published at 4.00