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Offaly’s Adam Screeney scores the first goal of the game. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
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Adam Screeney the match-winner as Offaly clinch thriller with Wexford

Victory sets up an All-Ireland final clash with Cork on 27 May.

LAST UPDATE | May 17th 2023, 10:17 PM

Leinster U-20 hurling championship final
Offaly 1-21
Wexford 0-22

Paul Keane reports from Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

REDEMPTION OF SORTS is close at hand for Adam Screeney who helped Offaly to Leinster U-20 success, and in the process an All-Ireland final spot, with a thrilling individual performance in Carlow.

One of six players in the Offaly team that also lined out in last July’s narrow All-Ireland minor final defeat to Tipperary, Screeney fired 1-12 to comfortably claim the Man of the Match award.

Of more importance to the Kilcormac-Killoughey talent will be the fact that Offaly are champions of Leinster for the sixth time at the grade and now have an opportunity for a first ever All-Ireland success at the grade.

They will play Cork in the final on May 27 and will have captain Charlie Mitchell available for that game despite his 37th minute red card.

He received his second booking following an incident which left Wexford’s Eoin Whelan grounded and while it looked like being a pivotal moment in a tight game that was level nine times, Offaly somehow ground out the win.

Screeney’s goal came five minutes after the red card and gave them a vital cushion at that stage, putting them 1-15 to 0-15 clear.

Cormac Egan, who has already won an All-Ireland U-20 football medal, played the final pass to Screeney for the goal.

Both Screeney and defender Brecon Kavanagh were returning to the Offaly team after missing the semi-final due to concussion protocols.

A piece of Screeney wizardry late in the first-half – a memorable solo score from the right wing – helped Offaly to lead by 0-11 to 0-9 at half-time but, in truth, it was a tie that could have gone either way.

Free-taker Cian Byrne was inspired for Wexford and scored 0-14 on the evening, four points of which came from open play.

Wexford points from Byrne and Sean Rowley helped to level up the game early in the second-half before the two dramatic moments; the sending-off and then the goal.

After all of that, Wexford managed to claw their way back to level terms and the teams remained tied entering stoppage time at 1-18 to 0-21.

From there, Offaly edged it with two Screeney points and another from Dan Ravenhill to a sole score in response from Wexford’s Byrne. The final whistle sparked a pitch invasion but the biggest celebration of the season could be just around the corner with the All-Ireland final to look forward to now.

Offaly scorers: Adam Screeney 1-12 (0-8f, 1 65), Dan Ravenhill 0-3 (0-1f), Dan Bourke 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-2, Charlie Mitchell 0-1, Cathal King 0-1.

Wexford scorers: Cian Byrne 0-14 (0-10f), Cillian Byrne 0-2, Corey Byrne Dunbar 0-1, Darragh Carley 0-1, Sean Rowley 0-1, Luke Murphy 0-1, JJ Twamley 0-1, Dylan Purcell 0-1.

OFFALY

1. Mark Troy (Durrow)

2. Patrick Taaffe (Belmont)
3. James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
4. Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

5. Luke Watkins (Shinrone)
6. Sam Bourke (Durrow)
7. Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

8. Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
9. Cathal King (Carrig & Riverstown)

11. Cormac Egan (Tullamore)
13. Dan Ravenhill (Durrow)
12. Conor Doyle (Clara)

15. Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
14. Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey – Captain)
10. Dan Bourke (Durrow)

Subs:
19. Barry Egan (Clara) for King 56

WEXFORD

1. Derry Mahon (HWH Bunclody)

2. Simon Roche (Oulart-The Ballagh)
3. Eoin Whelan (St Mogue’s, Fethard)
4. Darragh Kehoe (Cloughbawn)

7. Conor Foley (Horeswood
9. Darragh Carley (Glynn-Barntown – Captain)
6. Michael Dundon (Clongeen)

8. Sean Rowley (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
20. Conor Murphy (Taghmon-Camross)

14. Shamey O’Hagan (Buffers Alley)
11. Corey Byrne Dunbar (Ferns St Aidan’s)
12. Jack Redmond (Rathnure St Anne’s)

10. Cian Byrne (St Mogue’s, Fethard)
13. Luke Murphy (Faythe Harriers)
15. Cillian Byrne (St Mogue’s, Fethard)

Subs:
5. Dylan Purcell (Duffry Rovers) for Murphy 22
18. JJ Twamley (Naomh Eanna) for Redmond h/t
17. Darragh Farrell (HWH Bunclody) for Dundon 49
22. Oisin Pepper (Rapparees) for Murphy 57

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).

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