Dubs hold big lead with Offaly rivalry

The Dublin-Offaly qualifier has prime setting today as it opens proceedings at Croke Park today and is followed by the Dublin v Laois Leinster football semi-final.

It’s 12 years since Dublin and Offaly last clashed in the hurling championship, an occasion which has pleasant memories for Dublin who won the Leinster semi-final by 0-19 to 1-14.

The result was regarded as a major surprise as Offaly had won the National League title for the first time a few weeks prior to that.

Offaly and Dublin have met 31 times in the championship with Dublin leading 23-8.