Dublin suffer Croker choker

Offaly 2-25, Dublin 1-13

Dismal Dublin suffered a real Croker choker as Offaly ran riot to book their place in the Leinster SHC final against Wexford.

In the end talk of a major upset was proved well off the mark as Offaly closed out the game from an early stage.

The Dubs looked impressive last Sunday in defeating Westmeath but quickly came unstuck this time as Offaly got off to the perfect start.

Rory Haniffy scored the first point of the game and they were 0-6 to 0-1 up by the quarter hour mark.

David O'Callaghan was Dublin's chief performer with 0-5 for the half but Offaly still reached the interval with a huge 1-17 to 0-7 advantage, the goal a 27th minute Brendan Murphy score.

Offaly points after the restart from Damien Murray, 0-3 in a row, stretched the gap before a mini Dublin revival.

By the 56th minute Dublin were trailing by just eight points at 1-12 to 1-20 with Michael Carton getting the goal for them.

But Offaly pulled away again with six points in the closing minutes to win an all too easy game.