Offaly 1-17

Carlow 2-11

SHANE DOOLEY STARRED from the placed ball as Offaly restored some pride in the jersey and maintained an interest in the Leinster championship with this round robin win over Carlow.

The Offaly marksman hit 1-10, with seven of those from frees and despite goals from Ross Smithers and Sean Murphy, Carlow couldn’t come back, and they paid for the ill-discipline as Diarmuid Byrne, Hugh Paddy O’Byrne and goalkeeper Brian Treacy got straight reds late on.

Following a turbulent week for the county, where there were doubts placed in the management and the structures in place, Offaly needed the win more at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

They lost to Westmeath for the first time in 40 years last weekend, and manager Eamonn Kelly, who only took the reins in September made four changes to his side.

Carlow held a 1-7 to 0-9 point lead at half-time after Smithers hit their goal shortly before the interval. Carlow had begun well and led 0-5 to 0-1 after five minutes. Seamus Murphy hit their first, and while Kevin Connolly kept Offaly in touch, Kevin McDonald stretched Carlow’s lead to four.

Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

But then Offaly found their touch, especially Dooley who hit five of their six points in a row. John Michael Nolan hit back for Carlow’s first point in 17 minutes, and when Dooley struck another two points it looked as if Offaly would lead at half time.

But Smithers latched onto Seamus Murphy’s pass to goal and Carlow were one point up at the interval. However after Sean Murphy notched Carlow’s second goal eight minutes in they eased up. Dooley shot to the net in the 44^th minute, and Byrne got red for interfering with Shane Kinsella’s faceguard in the 66^th minute, O’Byrne followed him for an off-the-ball incident, as did the goalkeeper Brian Treacy late on.

Scorers – Offaly: S Dooley 1-10 (0-6f, 1’65, 0-1 sl), P Murphy 0-2, J Mulrooney 0-2, J Bergin 0-2 (0-1f), K Connolly 0-1.

Carlow: Sean Murphy 1-1, R Smithers 1-0, J Doyle 0-3, K McDonald 0-2 (0-1f), D Murphy 0-2 (0-1f), J M Nolan 0-1, Seamus Murphy 0-1, D Byrne 0-1.

OFFALY

1. James Dempsey (Kinnitty)

2. Paddy Rigney (Kinnitty)

3. Dermot Shortt (St Rynagh’s)

4. Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)

7. David King (Coolderry)

24. Sean Gardiner (Lusmagh)

5. Dermot Mooney (Seir Keiran)

8. Pat Camon (St Rynagh’s)

9. Sean Cleary (Shinrone)

12. Cillian Kiely (Kilcormac Kiloughey)

11. Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran)

10. Shane Kinsella (Kinnitty)

13. Paddy Murphy (Ballinamere)

14. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)

15. Kevin Connolly (Coolderry)

Subs:

17. James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran) for Kiely (47)

22. Paudge Guinan (Drumcullen) for Cleary (56)

20. Jason Sampson (Shinrone) for Connolly (59)

CARLOW

1. Brian Treacy (Naomh Eoin)

2. Ger Coady (St Mullins)

3. Michael Ryan (Ballinkillen)

4. Alan Corcoran (Erins Own)

7. James O’Hara (Naomh Eoin)

6. Richard Coady (Mount Leinster Rangers)

9. Richard Kelly (Mount Leinster Rangers)

8. James Doyle (St Mullins)

5. Diarmuid Byrne (Mount Leinster Rangers)

10. Sean Murphy (Ballinkillen)

14. Seamus Murphy (St Mullins)

13. John Michael Nolan (Naomh Eoin)

15. Ross Smithers (Naomh Eoin)

11. Martin Kavanagh (St Mullins)

12. Kevin McDonald (Mount Leinster Rangers)

Subs:

20. Denis Murphy (Mount Leinster Rangers) for McDonald (47)

18. Hugh Paddy O’Byrne (Mount Leinster Rangers) for Nolan (60)

17. Conor Lawlor (Carlow Town) for Kelly (70)

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).