Dubs run riot against depleted Faithful

Dublin 3-13 Offaly 0-7

Early goals from Tomás Quinn, Kevin McManamon and Diarmuid Connolly on Saturday sealed Dublin’s first ever Shield final place. They’ll play the winners of tomorrow night’s second semi-final between old foes Meath and Laois.

If Meath progress then Sunday’s Parnell Park clash will offer Dublin the chance of revenge for last summer’s five goal Leinster championship mauling. But boss Gilroy insisted it’ll just be another warm up tie for the Allianz league, whoever the opposition.

He said: “The National League is what we’re all focused on. This competition is about getting as many guys out, having a look at them to see what type of league panel we’re going to have. Whoever we’re playing, it won’t make any difference.”

Gilroy is likely to stick with the same new look team that has lined out against Westmeath, Wexford and Offaly this month. Sean Murray gave one terrible pass away against Offaly but, overall, looked assured at full-back in the absence of Rory O’Carroll. Dean Kelly was excellent from wing-forward while Colm Murphy, Conor McKiernan, Graham Cullen, Adrian Darcy, Willie Lowry and Darragh Stapleton all saw action too.

It was no contest for Dublin who led 3-6 to 0-2 at half-time after sixth, 11th and 26th minute goals. They hit four points in a row after the restart to move 17 points clear and secure the win.

“We had nine lads with their colleges, eight or nine more with Rhode so it was all about coming up and learning,” said Offaly boss Tom Cribbin.

Scorers for Dublin: T Quinn 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-1 45’, 0-1f), K McManamon 1-1, D Connolly 1-0, D Kelly 0-3, P Andrews, D Lally, D Bastick, B Cullen and A Hubbard 0-1 each.

Scorers for Offaly: C McManus 0-3, R Brady, N Dunne (0-1f), NA Graham (0-11f), S Ryan 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; A Hubbard, S Murray, D Daly; C McKiernan, P Casey, D Lally; D Bastick, C Murphy; D Kelly, K Bonner, D Connolly; K McManamon, G Cullen, T Quinn.

Subs: A Darcy for McManamon (31), P Flynn for Connolly (ht), P Andrews for Bonner (44), W Lowry for Daly (51), D Stapleton for McKiernan (55).

OFFALY: E Brennan; G Rafferty, S Brady, S Pender; N Spain, K Slattery, R Brady; P Bracken, R Dalton; NA Graham, J Reynolds, C McManus; N Dunne, J Coughlan, K Casey.

Subs: J Keane for Pender (31), G Guilfoyle for Dalton (ht), S Ryan for Bracken (53).

Referee: J Curley (Meath).