Offaly 0-13
Kildare 0-9
JOE MAHER STRUCK six points to help Offaly topple reigning champions Kildare in tonight’s Leinster U21 quarter-final in Athy.
The Faithful followed up on their opening round victory over Wexford to defeat a Kildare side that contained five members of last year’s title winning side – including Daniel Flynn, who recently returned from the AFL and was brought into the starting line-up before throw-in.
Flynn was on the mark early on as Kildare lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after just eight minutes but Offaly recovered to lead by 0-5 to 0-3 by the 20th minute mark. Kildare were only 0-6 to 0-5 adrift at the interval but Maher, Peter Cunningham and Aaron McDonagh all bagging a brace of points apiece for Offaly.
Kildare emerged strongly after the break and took the lead briefly at 0-7 to 0-6. However Offaly kicked on again to lead by 0-9 to 0-7 by the 43rd minute with Maher helping extend their advantage to five points – 0-13 to 0-8 – with just ten minutes remaining.
From there they successfully protected their lead to claim a notable victory and advance to face either Meath or Louth at the semi-final stage on March 19th.
OFFALY: Conor Clancy (St Rynagh’s); Sean Moriarty (St Rynagh’s), Joseph O’Connor (Edenderry), Darragh Corbett (Shannonbridge); Keith Mullaly (Gracefield), Philip Foy (Clonmore Harps), Conor McNamee (Rhode); Declan Byrne (Raheen), Eoin Carroll (Cappincur); Jason Gettings (Cappincur), Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh), Aaron McDonagh (Ferbane); Joe Maher (Ferbane), Adam Shelly (Tullamore), Sean Doyle (Edenderry).
KILDARE: Shane McNamara (Celbridge); Barry Egan (Clane), Sean Higgins (Maynooth), Shane O’Hagan (Kill); Dylan Corcoran (Celbridge), David Hyland (Athy), Cian O’Donoghue (Clane); Gavin Farrell (Castledermot), Fergal Conway (Celbridge); Barry Coffey (Sarsfields), Tony Gibbons (Athy), Paddy Brophy (Celbridge); David Hughes (Celbridge), Daniel Grehan (Clogherinkoe), Daniel Flynn (Johnstownbridge).
Referee: Damien Maher (Westmeath)
Just the 31 points to spare for the Dublin U21 footballers against Carlow tonight
Longford need extra-time to see off Laois in Leinster U21FC while Meath and Louth face replay
