Dublin 2-17
Offaly 0-13
DUBLIN GOT THEIR provincial campaign off to a winning start when overcoming Offaly by 2-17 to 0-13 in their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC Round 2 encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors started in the ascendancy and they raced into a four point lead inside as many minutes thanks to points from Liam Langton, Ciaran Cleary, Conor Molloy and JP Cleary.
Dublin gradually began to find their collective feet thanks to Mark Maguire’s 5th minute point and a brace of fine scores by Fergal Whitely trimmed Dublin’s deficit to the bare minimum by the end of the first quarter.
Offaly struggled for possession from this stage with Dublin centre-back Paddy Smyth to the fore but they managed to build on their lead through successive scores by Molloy and Oisin Kelly.
However, the hosts finished the half strongly with Gavin King’s sideline a two frees by his club-mate Matthew Oliver ensuring a slender 0-8 to 0-7 interval advantage for Dublin.
Dublin maintained that momentum upon the restart through points from Oliver, Whitely and Eoghan Dunne with their opponents hanging in through placed balls from Molloy.
However, the contest was effectively settled eight minutes from time as Dunne gathered a Whitely delivery before crashing a rising shot beyond the helpless William Malone from eight yards.
With Cleary dismissed for a wild pull in the 57th minute, Dublin added gloss to the final scoreline as King added their second goal a minute later to help confirm a ten point win for Johnny McGuirk’s charges.
Scorers for Dublin: Eoghan Dunne 1-2, Matthew Oliver 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Gavin King 1-1 (0-1 sideline), Fergal Whitely 0-3, Mark Maguire 0-2, Ciaran Brady, Conor Burke (0-1f), Ciaran Dowling, Carl Sammon 0-1 apiece.
Scorers for Offaly: Conor Molloy 0-6 (0-5f), Liam Langton 0-3, Ciaran Cleary, JP Cleary, Oisin Kelly, Eoghan Cahill 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Eoin Skelly (Na Fianna) – Capt
2. Cian Hendricken (Naomh Mearnóg)
3. Ciaran Brady (Faughs)
4. Conor Ryan (Craobh Chiaráin)
5. Eoin Foley (Naomh Olaf)
6. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf)
7. Oisin Lanigan (St Vincent’s)
9. Carl Sammon (Craobh Chiaráin)
15. Matthew Oliver (Na Fianna)
8. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes)
11. Mark Maguire (St Jude’s)
12. Conor Burke (St Vincent’s)
10. Alex Considine (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Gavin King (Na Fianna)
13. Eoghan Dunne (St Brigid’s)
Subs
19. Ciaran Dowling (Lucan Sarsfields) for Lanigan (half-time).
24. Eoghan Conroy (St Maur’s) for Burke (37).
20. Cian O’Sullivan (St Brigid’s) for Sammon (43).
22. Jack McVeigh (Lucan Sarsfields) for Considine (46).
17. Daire Gray (Whitehall Colmcille ) for Foley (59).
Offaly
1. William Malone (Coolderry)
2. Cathal O’Brien (Shamrocks)
3. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s)
4. Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty)
5. Shaun Lowry (Kilcormack/Killoughey)
6. Jack Fogarty (Ballinamere/Durrow)
7. Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh)
8. Michael Gilligan (Seir Kieran)
9. Conor Molloy (Coolderry)
12. Oisin Kelly (Belmont)
11. JP Cleary (Shinrone)
10. Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone)
15. Liam Langton (Na Fianna)
14. Eoghan Cahill (Birr) – Capt
13. John Murray (Drumcullen)
Subs
17. Jack Dooley (Tullamore) for E Kelly (45)
20. David Buckley (Na Fianna) for Murray (53)
23. Cathal Curran (Na Fianna) for O’Brien (57)
Referee: Michael O’Sullivan (Kilkenny)
Originally published at 4.00
Absolutely terrible decision that has to be a red card , high speed neck high challenge to stop a goal scoring opportunity. Very generous refereeing for Galway in that first half
Coen was a lucky boy
Terrible decision!
That was one seriously dangerous challenge and he should have walked . The short conversation with linesman had me convinced he was gone.
Hurling > football
Lower viewing figures, less participating counties…..
Hoping for a Galway win, Kilkenny will shade it no doubt!!
So the location of the match is at Old Trafford?
When did Mick McCarthy lose his lovely quiff & when did he start managing Galway ?
Boring. Kilkenny too good again. Hurling becoming a joke.
Galway resorting to Dublin tactics and being facilitated by ref
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
You mean Kilkenny tactics?
Big time bottlers are Galway, not helped by some terrible refereeing
Galway can’t complain about refereeing, got 2 points from soft overcarrying decisions and should have had 14 men for the whole 2nd half
OMG Stick Wars !!
It was disgusting to see half of the Kilkenny crowd leave before the cup was presented, talk about arrogance.
Galway could have won it but the Cats ‘re the best for a reason, great second half display by them.
Maybe next year Galway…
Well done, Galway. A few stats! Galway all Ireland Intermediate champs, All Ireland Minor Champs, and 2nd best Senior team in the country…and the Ladies to come yet…Not bad, I suggest…
Keep it going, Galway.
Great Kilkenny team, no argument. But they will be stopped sometime!!
How can the 42 not get the full time score correct?
Great Galway display, against an indisputable set of Kilkenny legends. No doubt about that. But just remember a little stat (to the knockers!). Galway= all Ireland Intermediate champs, All Ireland Minor Champs and 2nd best Seniors in the country and all for 2015. And the Ladies Camogie has to come yet in the all Ireland… Not bad stats? So, Galway, well done, a credit to yourselves. And under great leadership.
Man of the stadium: Messi
Jonny Ryan a legend