Offaly boss Kelly full of praise for ‘great kid’ Mitchell

Charlie Mitchell scored 1-3 and collected the man of the match award for his efforts.

Offaly's Charlie Mitchell with Conor Donohoe of Dublin. Pic: Tommy Grealy/Inpho

Leinster SHC: Offaly 4-22 Dublin 2-28 

While Charlie Mitchell told GAA+ viewers that it was a few days ago that he learned that he would be starting Saturday evening’s Leinster SHC opener against Dublin, Offaly manager Johnny Kelly confirmed to reporters that at was “a few weeks ago” that he made the decision to line out his captain and talisman from the throw in, a decision that was vindicated by Mitchell scoring 1-3 and collecting the man of the match award for his efforts.

“It was a thrill to see him lead the team out onto the field, however the game would have ended up,” Kelly said, summing up the emotions of a county that wondered if Mitchell’s career might be forever impacted by the myocarditis diagnosis that he received in January. 

“He’s a great kid, I can’t talk highly enough about Charlie and what he’s gone through over the last three months, and indeed his parents. There were dark days over the last while.

“I’m delighted for the rest of the bunch and how they’ve acquitted themselves over the last four weeks. They’ve taken some beatings in the league, and rightly, there was a bit of despondency about the place. But hopefully that draw today will lift the spirits a bit for next week.”

Dublin’s power and efficient use of short puckouts and intermediate range passing ensured that Dublin rattled 1-18 in the first half while shooting just five wides, their goal coming from Brian Hayes.

Offaly were that bit more off the cuff and mercurial, but they had their moments. Mitchell’s opening score came from the stand-side touchline, Adam Screeney delivered a gorgeous pass for Brian Duignan’s goal, and Shane Rigney lit up the crowd with an electric run and finish in the first half.

Screeney and Conor Donohoe traded goals after half-time, Mitchell hit the net with a first-time pull to tie up the teams, and while Offaly never trailed in the last 20 minutes, a crucial save from Seán Brennan to deny Rigney a second goal left them still within reach.

Donal Burke’s point in the third minute of stoppage time left it all square at the finish, bringing an end to a breathless 70 minutes of action and ensuring that Offaly still have a lot of work to do to scrape into the top three in the province, starting with a daunting trip to Salthill next Sunday.

“I hope it gives us a bit more belief,” Kelly said.

Scorers for Offaly: A Screeney (1-9, 8f), C Mitchell (1-3), B Duignan (1-2), S Rigney (1-0), D Bourke (0-3), C Doyle (0-1), T Guinan (0-1), D Ravenhill (0-1), L Hoare (0-1f), C Spain (0-1).

Scorers for Dublin: D Burke (0-11, 9f), C Donohoe (1-2), B Hayes (1-1), C Burke (0-4), C O’Sullivan (0-2), D Power (0-2), C Crummey (0-1), P Doyle (0-1), F Whitely (0-2), R Hayes (0-1), D Purcell (0-1).

OFFALY: L Hoare; P Taaffe, B Conneely, B Kavanagh; R Ravenhill, K Sampson, T Guinan; D Ravenhill, C King; S Rigney, C Doyle, D Bourke; C Mitchell, B Duignan, A Screeney.

Subs: C Spain for King (half-time), C Burke for Kavanagh (half-time), O Kelly for Mitchell (52-54, temp), J Clancy for Guinan (65), O Kelly for D Ravenhill (69).

DUBLIN: S Brennan; E O’Donnell, P Smyth, C McHugh; J Bellew, C Crummey, C Burke; P Doyle, C Donohoe; F Whitely, B Hayes, D Power; D Burke, J Hetherton, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: R Hayes for Doyle (47), A Dunphy for McHugh (55), D Purcell for Donohoe (65).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).