Sligo 1
Limerick 1
PAUL O’CONOR WAS the Limerick hero on Saturday night as his 94th minute header at the Showgrounds on Saturday evening gave his side a 1-1 draw.
Dinny Corcoran gave the Bit o’Red the lead in the first half, before O’Conor struck against his former side in the dying seconds.
Both sides knew at the start of this fixture that three points were essential, and it was evident why they both hold their respective positions in the league.
Plenty of sloppy play and misplaced passes made for a dour enough opening half, but the hosts were first to make the most of their chances, as few as there were.
Local boy Kevin Devaney surged forward and trickled his way past numerous Limerick players, and despite being brought down on the edge of the box, he managed to picked himself up and play a pass to Sander Puri on his left. The Estonian international crossed into the box where Dinny Corcoran was on hand to send an effort past O’Donnell, giving Heary’s men the lead just before the half hour mark.
Paul O’Conor then came close to netting an own goal for his former side, when a Rovers ball smacked off him and just went over O’Donnell’s crossbar. Ian Turner then came close, but he could only send his effort wide of Richard Brush’s post – the closest Limerick would come in the first half.
Rovers had a great opportunity to extend their lead during the second-half, when Sander Puri found Corcoran in front of goal. The former Bohs man got his toe to it, but that wasn’t enough and O’Donnell collected comfortably.
The game looked to be over but O’Conor then popped up with that late goal.
He was left unmarked for a Limerick free in the 94th minute, and he sent a header past Brush, to sent a deafening silence around the Showgrounds,
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Alan Keane, Gary Boylan, Stephen Folan, Jake Dykes, Steven Beattie (Morten Nielsen, 93), David Cawley, John Russell, Sander Puri, Kevin Devaney (Raffaele Cretaro, 69), Dinny Corcoran.
Subs: Ryan Coulter, Danny Ledwith, Eoin Wearen, Gary Armstrong, Ryan McManus.
Limerick: Conor O’Donnell, Sean Harding, Paudie O’Connor (Tony Whitehead, 65), Robbie Williams, Paul O’Conor, Ian Turner, Shane Duggan, Dean Clarke, Vinny Faherty (Darragh Rainsford, 53), Shane Tracy, Sean Russell.
Subs: Tommy Holland, Val Feeney, Jason Hughes, Sean McSweeney, Aidan Price.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Man of the match: Sander Puri – the Estonian international has been struggling for form since joining Sligo Rovers but was busy this evening as he created a host of chances for his team-mates, and made life very difficult for the visitors.
All the pressure on Offaly today and they were well deserved winners. Hopefully they will progress to senior level and they’ll compete in the All-Ireland series in 4/5 years time. Congratulations from a KK supporter
@Niall Egan: Fancied Offally to win this. Especially after the heartache of losing a minor and under 20. Some very good hurlers coming through.
@Ray Ridge: Brilliant
What a team…the most likeable team in the gaa at the moment.. thank you Leo..
There won’t be a bunker raked in esker hills tomorrow
Some group of hurlers just shows what can be done when everyone is on the same page, Workrate, teamwork, determination, skill and bottle in abundance they have it all.
Go on The Faithful county
Congrats to Offaly. They completely out hurled Tipp and could have won by much more.
Screeney is a class act and we all know that already. Dan Bourke was my man of the match. Imperious at centre forward. His goal put the game to bed just when Tipp had responded well to the first Offaly goal and looked like the game would go to the wire.
The joke among Tipp fans leaving the ground was at least the traffic won’t be bad leaving with all the Offaly fans celebrating back on the pitch.
It was the best atmosphere at a game in years thanks to the great Offaly support.
Enjoy the celebrations in Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and the rest of Offaly. Third time is a charm as someone else posted and this team are great champions.
Super atmosphere in KK,the place was mega.great game of hurling and Offaly never looked like they were going to come 2nd this evening.commiserations to a very good Tipperary team who had us on the edge of our seats at times alright but congratulations to the Faithful ! Up Offaly
Delighted for Offaly and Leo as well. Great stuff!
A Limerick man over a swashbuckling Offaly side winning an AI, Leo should get the senior job in a few years time with the majority of that side breaking through.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: the legend Eamon Cregan was also an adopted Limerick man and wiped the floor with his own county to bring glory to the Offaly senior team.
Better team won, no complaints, hopefully a few players from both set ups make the step up to senior level over the next few years.
What a brilliant atmosphere at the game, despite being on the losing side, just home watching the Saturday game, could have done with more coverage, interviews etc.