Deadly Dooley delivers
After 48 minutes Offaly enjoyed a 2-13 to 1-13 cushion. However, Wexford, hurling into the teeth of a strong breeze, courageously fought back and were level by the 69th minute – it was the 8th occasion the counties were deadlocked — courtesy of points from Jim Berry (free), Harry Kehoe and PJ Nolan.
The initiative rested firmly with Colm Bonnar’s charges, even more so as Offaly were down to 14 men in the 61st minute after the harsh dismissal of influential sub Colin Egan.
Kehoe, Nolan and sub Colm Farrell fluffed decent opportunities that should have forged Wexford ahead and in injury time when Kehoe was penalised for over-carrying on the 45m line in Offaly’s half there seemed little danger.
That was until Dooley, recovered from the ear injury that sidelined him for the joust with Tipperary in the previous round, delivered a magnificent radar-like strike to edge his side in front in the 71st minute. It was an incredible score, and he repeated the feat moments later, beautifully curling a free, won by Conor Mahon, from under the shadow of the stand over the bar.
Dooley ended with1-10 and when he stood over the second last free, Offaly hadn’t scored for 23 minutes. “I knew we needed a score at that stage. It was a long way out but I knew the breeze was behind me so I said I’d have a crack at it. It was a worth a pot.
The skipper was unerring from placed balls, accounting for all of Offaly’s five second half points. “Thank God I missed nothing. It was a day where you couldn’t miss anything because it was so tight the whole way through.”
His proud father and Offaly manager Joe outlined: “It was a pressure free but I suppose if you wanted anyone standing over a free like that it would be Shane. I’m not too sure what way relegation will play out but at least we’ve two points and can look forward to playing Waterford here.
When we went down to 14 men it wasn’t easy. I didn’t actually see the incident but it seemed harsh enough by all accounts. The lads dug fierce deep. And I think that as the ground gets firmer we’ll hurl better.”
The counties were level six times during a committed and frantic opening 23 minutes, before wind aided Wexford twice opened up leads of three points. A hat-trick of scores in succession from Berry (free), the lively Rory Jacob and corner back Paul Roche (free) made it 0-10 to 0-7. Dooley (free) and Jacob swapped points before the concluding four minutes of the half produced a decisive Offaly score burst that yielded 1-2 without reply from Dooley.
The goal came in the 34th minute when Jacob was penalised for an illegal hand-pass. Rory Hanniffy’s probing free reached Joe Bergin who displayed remarkable vision with a reverse hand-pass to find Dooley and he clinically rifled the sliotar beyond Wexford ‘keeper Noel Carton. A brace of points from Dooley followed and Offaly, after facing the elements and trailing by three, were now brimming with confidence and two points to the good, 1-10 to 0-11.
Wexford enjoyed a dream start to the second half. They were denied a goal after Offaly ‘keeper James Dempsey produced a stunning dive to keep out Jim Berry’s point-blank kicked attempt. But Berry wasn’t to be foiled a second time and in the 38th minute, he flicked a one-handed rebound strike to the net after Dempsey had initially thwarted Rory Jacob’s attempt, 1-12 to 1-10 in favour of the visitors.
Offaly reclaimed the lead two minutes later after Conor Mahon burst powerfully through the heart of the Wexford rearguard and Bergin fed Derek Molloy who marked his return from injury with a brilliant goal.
From the 48th minute on, despite trailing 1-13 to 2-13, Wexford dominated and they duly drew level but they did miss a litany of chances – they ended with eleven wides to Offaly’s six.
Bonnar said: “I looked at the stop watch on 70 minutes and we were back level and still looking to get the winner. Credit to the lads they kept fighting to the bitter end. But I’m very disappointed because we did have maybe three or four wides that were very scoreable for forwards.
“We need to pick ourselves back up again and we’re playing Cork in Wexford Park and it is a case of we’re going to have to keep fighting. Losing today obviously puts us in a more difficult situation. This was a vital game because of the head-to-head rule.”
Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley (1-10, 0-8 frees & 0-1 ‘65), D Molloy (1-1), J Bergin (0-2), G Healion (0-1), C Egan (0-1).
Scorers for Wexford: J Berry (1-4, 0-4 frees), R Jacob (0-3), PJ Nolan (0-3), D Redmond (0-3), H Kehoe (0-1), S Banville (0-1), P Roche (0-1 free).
Subs for Offaly: C Egan for Currams inj (11), M Cordial for Carroll (63), J Mulrooney for Molloy (71).
Subs for Wexford: C Farrell for Quigley (48), B Doyle for Waters (53), M Jacob for Banville (63).
Referee: A Stapleton, Laois.
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