Dooley’s focus on next clash

OFFALY manager Joe Dooley insisted that yesterday’s Allianz National Hurling League Division 2 final success will count for nothing when the counties meet again in the Leinster SHC on May 30.

Offaly and Wexford have less than four weeks to get ready for the Wexford Park showdown but the Faithful County have struck an important psychological blow.

Dooley insisted both teams should be playing in Division 1 next year and warned that Wexford now have huge motivation for revenge.

Dooley said: “It works both ways – it gives Wexford ammunition too.

“It will be a big ask to go down and beat Wexford in Wexford Park.”

Dooley added: “We’re a long way away from the Kilkennys and the Tipps but what we’re trying to do is bridge the gap and compete.

“It takes time; you just don’t bring a team along overnight.”

Dooley also paid tribute to a defensive unit bolstered by the returns of David Franks and David Kenny to the full-back line.

He said: “Today was David Kenny’s second game in the league and it was the same as if he was never away.

He’s an outstanding young hurler and our back line in particular played well today.”

Wexford boss Colm Bonnar admitted: “It was a final, it was there to be won and we’re disappointed to lose.

“You won’t win any final with 13 points and we hit a blank in terms of goals. It all told in the end.

“We had a poor start and we were struggling at 1-5 to 0-1 behind. But in fairness to Offaly, they did the job, did it well and were deserving winners.”

Bonnar, trying to put a positive spin on the prospect of Division 2 fare next year, added: “We have a lot of younger players coming through. It might be a chance to develop again and bring more talent on but we had set our goals to get back to Division 1.”