Offaly win uninspiring Division 2 final

Wexford 0-13 Offaly 1-13

Offaly reversed the final league placings in the Allianz NHL Division 2 table as they overcame the challenge of Wexford in this afternoon's largely forgettable final at Semple Stadium.

The win saw Joe Dooley's young Offaly side achieve two of their main aims for the season - picking up the Division 2 title and gaining promotion back into the top flight of the National League.

That was the real carrot for today's winners and the Faithfuls prevailed despite scoring only two points while facing into the wind in the second half.

Wexford made Dooley's charges sweat at the finish as they got back to within two points, with six minutes remaining.

But although Offaly moved their wides tally to a galling 14, a late Brian Carroll score was enough to seal the silverware.

This was the second meeting between the sides in a short space of time - Wexford were 12-point winners in the regulation phase of the league - and Offaly's success will give them something of a psychological edge heading into their Leinster SHC quarter-final clash at Wexford Park on May 30.

Speaking afterwards, Dooley said: "We showed great heart to get the win. Facing into it, the wind was a lot stronger in the second half.

"But the lads battled hard and while it probably wasn’t a pretty spectacle, particularly for the neutrals, it was a very important win for us.

"We’ve a young team and these lads need Division One hurling."

Commenting on the May 30 encounter, he added: "Well, Wexford have home advantage and we'll be up against it.

"But as you saw out there, there’s only a puck of the ball between the sides and it’ll probably be the same in the Championship."

Offaly had a fresh wind behind them in the first half and they built up an impressive 1-5 to 0-1 over the opening quarter-hour.

With team captain Ger Oakley rock solid at the back and Wexford struggling for possession, Dooley's men set the early pace.

The powerfully-built Stephen Banville notched Wexford's opening point but pointed efforts from Brian Carroll, Paul Cleary and Derek Molloy, who scored superbly from distance, settled Offaly.

Then Daniel Currams struck for the game's only goal. Kevin Brady lofted a ball in from the right and the nephew of Liam Currams, the former All-Star in hurling and football, rose well to bat it past Wexford goalkeeper Dermot Flynn, who also got a touch to it.

Carroll and Shane Dooley (free) pushed Offaly into a seven-point lead before the Wexford attack awoke from its slumber.

Team captain Diarmuid Lyng inspired his colleagues into action with a superb point from a sideline cut.

Paul Carley (free) and Banville sandwiched a point from Currams before two excellent scores from Derek Molloy left Offaly 1-8 to 0-4 ahead.

However, Offaly failed to score from play for the remainder of the half. Indeed, four successive points for the Model men cut the gap to 1-8 to 0-8, with Carley (2), Rory Jacob and young centre-forward Andrew Shore all on target.

Crucially though, Offaly managed to add some cushion for the second half with a late hat-trick of frees from the manager's son Dooley.

Offaly's 1-11 to 0-8 buffer was never going to be enough and Carley signalled his side's intent with an early second half free.

Pat Kenny added one from play before Dooley registered his fifth point and what would be Offaly's last for some time.

Wexford used the elements to keep their Leinster rivals under intense pressure, but Oakley and company snuffed out a number of their attacks.

Successive points from Lyng, with another sideline cut out of the top drawer, Malachy Travers and David Redmond set up a grandstand finish at 1-12 to 0-13.

But even though Offaly went into double figures in terms of wides, they kept playing positively and a Carroll point steadied the ship for 1-13 to 0-13.

With time running out, Wexford hunted for a late goal but Rory Jacob slung an effort wide from a ludicrously tight angle.

The coup de grace for Colm Bonnar's side came in injury-time when substitute Thomas Waters watched his powerful goal-bound shot be saved by Offaly net minder Brian Mullins, who marshalled his defence superbly.