Galway 2-19

Offaly 2-9

GALWAY ADVANCED TO a Leinster SHC showdown with champions Kilkenny after seeing off a spirited challenge of an Offaly side who had to play more than half the game with 14 men.

Galway, too, finished with 14 men but pulled away with the wind behind them in the second-half to set up a repeat of the All-Ireland final on July 3.

Offaly won the toss and took wind advantage and got off to a glorious start, racing into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after just three minutes to stun Galway.

Joe Bergin found the net inside 15 seconds when he collected a delivery from Colin Egan, with Shane Dooley and Dermot Mooney firing over points.

The constant rain made hurling difficult but Galway settled and points from Joe Canning and Conor Cooney got them off the mark before Niall Burke levelled the match with a goal after 13 minutes.

Two Dooley frees either side of a Joseph Cooney point for the Tribesmen left the score at 1-5 to 1-3 for Offaly after 24 minutes.

But with the exchanges becoming more heated, Offaly were dealt a huge blow when captain Colin Egan was sent off for a challenge on Fergal Moore, just moments after Galway’s David Burke was booked for an incident which saw Dooley got off temporarily for treatment.

Galway did not lead in the opening half but points from Conor Cooney and Canning drew them level and then Dooley and Canning exchanged points.

Dooley became Offaly’s all-time top championship scorer when he edged them in front before the break with another free to lead by 1-7 to 1-6 at the end of an eventual opening half for the crowd of 6,121.

Galway didn’t delay hitting the front after the restart with Conor Cooney finishing to the net after Offaly failed to clear their lines and Canning landed a 65 to lead by 2-7 to 1-7 after 40 minutes.

Galway outscored Offaly by 0-8 to 0-1 in the next 14 minutes to take a big step towards a date with Kilkenny in the Leinster final on July 3.

But Offaly did not give up and a goal from a penalty after 57 minutes to cut the gap to 2-15 to 2-9 before Galway were reduced to 14 men when Conor Cooney was sent off for an off the ball incident.

Canning and Cyril Donnellan eased the Galway nerves with a couple of points to seal the win.

Scorers for Galway: J Canning 0-8 (6f, 1 ’65), C Cooney 1-3, N Burke 1-0, P Mannion 0-2, David Burke 0-2, J Cooney 0-2, C Whelan 0-1, C Donnellan 0-1.

Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-4f), J Bergin 1-1, D Mooney 0-1, P Murphy 0-1, J Mulrooney 0-1.

Galway

1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)

2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon Newcastle)
4. Fergal Moore (Turloughmore)

5. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
6. Daithi Burke (Turloughmore)
7. Aidan Harte (Gort)

8. David Burke (c) (St Thomas)
9. Davey Glennon (Mullagh)

10. Niall Burke (Oranmore-Maree)
11. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
12. Joe Canning (Portumna)

13. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
14. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)
15. Conor Cooney (St Thomas)

Subs:
25. Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses) for Glennon (47)
24. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins) for N Burke (51)
22. Andy Smith (Portumna) for David Burke (71)

Offaly

1. James Dempsey (Kinnitty)
2. Niall Wynne (St Rynagh’s)
4. Paddy Rigney (Kinnitty)
3. Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)

7. David King (Coolderry)
6. Sean Gardiner (Lusmagh)
5. Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran)

9. Sean Ryan (Birr)
10. Paddy Murphy (Ballinamere)

12. Shane Kinsella (Kinnitty)
13. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
11. James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran)

15. Kevin Connolly (Coolderry)
14. Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran)
8. Colin Egan (Belmont)

Subs:
18. Killian Kiely (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for Mulrooney (36)
22. Emmett Nolan (Birr) for Connolly (36)
19. Padraig Guinan (Drumcullen) for Ryan (45)
21. Sean Cleary (Shamrocks) for Murphy (68)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

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