A BIG 48TH-MINUTE call turned the tide in Offaly’s favour in a gripping Leinster senior hurling championship shootout in Tullamore on Saturday evening.
It was a game that secured Offaly’s status for next season and ended Wexford’s championship aspirations – if Offaly beat Kildare next Sunday and Dublin take Kilkenny, the Faithful will qualify for the All-Ireland series.
Offaly were struggling to confirm their favourites tag and were trailing by 1-14 to 0-13 when they were awarded a 48th-minute penalty when Conor Foley pulled back Brian Duignan. Foley got a black on top of his earlier yellow and Eoghan Cahill converted the penalty.
As game-turning moments go, this was huge and it gave Offaly the impetus to go and record their first championship win over Wexford since 2012.
Wexford's Cillian Byrne with Ter Guinan of Offaly. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Adam Screeney’s 57th-minute goal gave them the lead for the first time, 2-13 to 1-14, and was also their first score of the second half. Offaly looked like winning from here to the final whistle, though Wexford fought with what they had.
Offaly were 2-15 to 1-14 ahead when Kevin Foley got a 60th-minute goal to bring it down to a point. Offaly were by far the better team from here to the final whistle, outscoring the visitors by six points to one for a fully deserved win.
Eoghan Cahill was pivotal to Offaly’s win. The Birr sharpshooter scored 1-12, four points from play, and his work ethic and turnovers caught the eye.
“This is the new side of Eoghan,” manager Johnny Kelly said afterwards. “It’s brilliant to see that he’s working so hard to get those tackles and turnovers because it’s a huge part of the modern game.
“Full-forward lines really have to be defensive weapons as well, to be honest about it, and that’s a new facet of his play. Obviously he has great wrists and he’s very accurate so I’m thrilled for Eoghan.”
Offaly's Shane Rigney celebrates. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Wexford were the better side in the first half, settling into the game very well after a nervous opening. Simon Donohue’s 15th-minute goal helped them to a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes and Offaly struggled to get motoring against the wind.
They hung on grimly but trailed by 1-9 to 0-5 after 22 minutes. Three Cahill frees kept them alive, but Wexford deserved their 1-12 to 0-10 half-time lead and could have been further ahead.
Scorers for Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 1-12 (8f and goal from a penalty), Adam Screeney 1-1, Dan Bourke 0-3, Liam Hoare (1f) and Brian Duignan 0-2 each, Dan Ravenhill 0-1.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-6 (5f), Simon Donohue 1-2, Kevin Foley 1-0, Simon Roche 0-2, Diarmuid O’Leary, Conor Hearne, Ross Banville, Jack O’Connor, Cian Molloy 0-1 each.
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Offaly
1. Liam Hoare
2. Ciaran Burke
3. Ben Conneely
4. Patrick Taaffe
5. Ross Ravenhill
6. Killian Sampson
7. Ter Guinan
8. Cathal King
9. Dan Ravenhill
10. Shane Rigney
11. Conor Doyle
12. Dan Bourke
13. Eoghan Cahill
14. Brian Duignan
15. Adam Screeney
Substitutes: Oisin Kelly for Dan Ravenhill (22).
Wexford
1. Mark Fanning
2. Darragh Carley
3. Liam Ryan
4. Simon Donohoe
5. Damien Reck
6. Richie Lawlor
18. Niall Murphy
8. Diarmuid O’Leary
9. Conor Hearne
10. Ross Banville
11. Lee Chin
12. Jack O’Connor
13. Kevin Foley
14. Simon Roche
15. Cillian Byrne
Substitutes: Conor Foley for Recks, inj. (18m); Cian Molloy (0-1) for Carley (47m); David Clarke for Ryan (51m); Cian Byrne for O’Connor (63m); James Byrne for Cillian Byrne (64m).
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Offaly keep their All-Ireland hopes alive with six-point win over Wexford
Offaly 2-21
Wexford 2-15
A BIG 48TH-MINUTE call turned the tide in Offaly’s favour in a gripping Leinster senior hurling championship shootout in Tullamore on Saturday evening.
It was a game that secured Offaly’s status for next season and ended Wexford’s championship aspirations – if Offaly beat Kildare next Sunday and Dublin take Kilkenny, the Faithful will qualify for the All-Ireland series.
Offaly were struggling to confirm their favourites tag and were trailing by 1-14 to 0-13 when they were awarded a 48th-minute penalty when Conor Foley pulled back Brian Duignan. Foley got a black on top of his earlier yellow and Eoghan Cahill converted the penalty.
As game-turning moments go, this was huge and it gave Offaly the impetus to go and record their first championship win over Wexford since 2012.
Adam Screeney’s 57th-minute goal gave them the lead for the first time, 2-13 to 1-14, and was also their first score of the second half. Offaly looked like winning from here to the final whistle, though Wexford fought with what they had.
Offaly were 2-15 to 1-14 ahead when Kevin Foley got a 60th-minute goal to bring it down to a point. Offaly were by far the better team from here to the final whistle, outscoring the visitors by six points to one for a fully deserved win.
Eoghan Cahill was pivotal to Offaly’s win. The Birr sharpshooter scored 1-12, four points from play, and his work ethic and turnovers caught the eye.
“This is the new side of Eoghan,” manager Johnny Kelly said afterwards. “It’s brilliant to see that he’s working so hard to get those tackles and turnovers because it’s a huge part of the modern game.
“Full-forward lines really have to be defensive weapons as well, to be honest about it, and that’s a new facet of his play. Obviously he has great wrists and he’s very accurate so I’m thrilled for Eoghan.”
Wexford were the better side in the first half, settling into the game very well after a nervous opening. Simon Donohue’s 15th-minute goal helped them to a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes and Offaly struggled to get motoring against the wind.
They hung on grimly but trailed by 1-9 to 0-5 after 22 minutes. Three Cahill frees kept them alive, but Wexford deserved their 1-12 to 0-10 half-time lead and could have been further ahead.
Scorers for Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 1-12 (8f and goal from a penalty), Adam Screeney 1-1, Dan Bourke 0-3, Liam Hoare (1f) and Brian Duignan 0-2 each, Dan Ravenhill 0-1.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-6 (5f), Simon Donohue 1-2, Kevin Foley 1-0, Simon Roche 0-2, Diarmuid O’Leary, Conor Hearne, Ross Banville, Jack O’Connor, Cian Molloy 0-1 each.
Offaly
1. Liam Hoare
2. Ciaran Burke
3. Ben Conneely
4. Patrick Taaffe
5. Ross Ravenhill
6. Killian Sampson
7. Ter Guinan
8. Cathal King
9. Dan Ravenhill
10. Shane Rigney
11. Conor Doyle
12. Dan Bourke
13. Eoghan Cahill
14. Brian Duignan
15. Adam Screeney
Substitutes: Oisin Kelly for Dan Ravenhill (22).
Wexford
1. Mark Fanning
2. Darragh Carley
3. Liam Ryan
4. Simon Donohoe
5. Damien Reck
6. Richie Lawlor
18. Niall Murphy
8. Diarmuid O’Leary
9. Conor Hearne
10. Ross Banville
11. Lee Chin
12. Jack O’Connor
13. Kevin Foley
14. Simon Roche
15. Cillian Byrne
Substitutes: Conor Foley for Recks, inj. (18m); Cian Molloy (0-1) for Carley (47m); David Clarke for Ryan (51m); Cian Byrne for O’Connor (63m); James Byrne for Cillian Byrne (64m).
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)
****
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Faithful Hurling Leinster SHC Offaly GAA Wexford GAA