Dooley drives Offaly to first League win of campaign

Offaly 2-15 Wexford 1-16

The fit-again Shane Dooley steered Offaly to their first win of the Allianz Hurling League at O’Connor Park this afternoon.

Having recovered from a recent ear injury, Dooley hit two injury-time frees to finish with a handsome tally of 1-10.

Dooley’s 33rd-minute goal gave the hosts a 1-10 to 0-11 buffer at half-time, with David Redmond, PJ Nolan and Rory Jacob leading the Wexford charge.

Jacob and Derek Molloy exchanged second half goals and Offaly won out despite having substitute Colin Egan dismissed.

Dooley and Ger Healion, who missed the recent loss to Tipperary with a hamstring injury, were restored to the Offaly attack for this battle of Division 1’s bottom two sides.

Both managers made later alterations to the line-ups as Egan made way for Derek Molloy, and Wexford boss Colm Bonnar drafted in Tomas Waters at full-forward.

The Model men also welcomed back Keith Rossiter at corner back and David Redmond at midfield, while Askamore’s PJ Nolan got the nod at right half-forward.

The early exchanges pointed to a tight game with Joe Bergin setting Offaly on their way with a point after just 49 seconds. By the midpoint of the half, they were still 0-06 to 0-05 ahead.

Dooley, Healion and Molloy found their range early on, while Redmond, Nolan and accurate free-taker Jim Berry answered back for the visitors.

Wexford goalkeeper Noel Carton denied Dooley a goal and Bonnar’s charges enjoyed a purple patch of scoring – Stephen Banville, Rory Jacob and Paul Roche helped them move into a 0-11 to 0-08 lead.

But talismanic captain Dooley hit 1-02 in the closing minutes of the half to restore Offaly’s advantage. Bergin plucked the ball out of the air and fed Dooley for his goal.

The Faithfuls had the wind at their backs in the second half, however Wexford showed no signs of capitulating. Berry landed an early free and had a kicked shot saved by Offaly stopper James Dempsey.

A minute later, Jacob lost his marker and drove a powerful shot to the net. But Offaly engineered a goal for Molloy in response, with Dooley continuing to impress from placed balls.

Jacob and Berry ensured a tight finish as after Egan was dismissed, Nolan managed to bring Wexford level at 2-13 to 1-16.

But their numerical advantage counted for little in injury-time as Dooley coolly stroked home the decisive points, providing Offaly with a much-needed lift as the league enters its final rounds.