Offaly win, but don't progress

Offaly 1-18 Wexford 2-11

Offaly, in their bid to finish third, ahead of Limerick in the NHL Division 1B, could only muster a four-point win over Wexford in Birr, as a poor final stretch saw them concede two late goals and fail to secure a second phase spot in the top six.

Substitute MJ Furlong inspired the Model men, setting up Michael Cordial to goal just after the hour mark, putting six points between the sides, and in stoppage time as he slotted home a Larry Murphy offload after Offaly had looked to be heading for a double digit win.

Rory Hanniffy had notched 1-20 in Offaly’s previous four games, and he pointed them in front on three minutes. Wing forward Brendan Murphy doubled their lead before Wexford’s Paul Carley put over his first free on nine minutes.

A run of three straight scores for Offaly, including a Brian Carroll point and a brace from Rory Hanniffy, stretched the Offaly lead to 0-5 to 0-1 on 15 minutes.

Carley’s second and third points and a 35-metre effort from Rory McCarthy kept the Model men in touch, but home dominance following two quick fire points from Michael Cordial nearly resulted in the first goal as Wexford stopper Damien Fitzhenry pulled off a double save from Rory Hanniffy, tipping his shot onto the cross bar, and the rebound from Carroll to the left.

Joe Brady almost got in for a goal after a miss-hit Rory Hanniffy free, but Offaly held firm, 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval, with two Hanniffy frees cancelling out Carley’s fifth point of the half from a 65 in stoppage time.

Wexford’s nine wides were evidently costly ones in the first half, and Gary Hanniffy and brother Rory put five points between the sides immediately after the restart.

Declan Ruth and Rory Stafford showed their forwards how to do it four minutes later. Brian Carroll cancelled Carley’s sixth free on 39 minutes, at 0-12 to 0-9.

Corner-forward Barry Lambert and Carley combined to keep Wexford three behind, but Offaly struck for their goal on 56 minutes as a Joe Brady flick paved the way for Damien Murray to hammer to the Wexford net from 10 metres.

Wexford’s first goal put the scores at 1-17 to 1-11 in Offaly’s favour, and with Rory Hanniffy hitting over the Faithful’s final point, the win was secured, but the big margin eluded them.