Offaly secure Leinster Senior Hurling status with win over Wexford
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Offaly's Adam Screeney in action. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon.
A WIN for Dublin over Kilkenny could well propel them into the All-Ireland series but Offaly have achieved their first priority of the season by retaining their status in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship with a round to go.
A storming closing quarter saw them defeat Wexford for the first time in the championship since 2012 in Tullamore on Saturday and if Offaly beat Kildare in the final round and Dublin take down Kilkenny, they will qualify.
That would be a great bonus for an improving side who entered this game in the unusual position of favourites and duly performed under pressure for the win. A defeat would have condemned them to a relegation shootout with Kildare next Sunday in Newbridge but manager Johnny Kelly is delighted that this is off the table.
It had been a difficult week for Offaly with star forward Charlie Mitchell having to get a procedure in a Dublin hospital following last Sunday's great draw with Kilkenny.
Kelly confirmed afterwards that the Kilcormac-Killoughey man watched the game from home. “We got him the stream, we got him the link so he's watching at home. I was speaking to him straight away after the game. I won't lie, it's been a really hard and emotional rollercoaster of a week, we met on Monday.
"We knew the gravity of the situation but thankfully Charlie was in great hands. We send our best wishes to Charlie, we'd a job to do and more than anything just to play in the way that Charlie played the game. That's all work-rate and never give up and I think the guys brought that to the field tonight."
Wexford played well for a lot of the first half and could have been further ahead than 1-12 to 0-10 at half time.
With the wind on their backs and in front of an attendance of just over 8,000, Wexford took a few minutes to settle and the sides were tied at 0-2 each after eight minutes.
Wexford then hit top gear and scored 1-4 without reply in a great spell of pressure. The goal was netted in the 15th minute by defender Simon Donohoe who had an excellent first half, scoring 1-2.
Lee Chin got a point from play and a free and Diarmuid O'Leary and Simon Roche also scored as Wexford stormed into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes.
Both teams lost key players to injury in the first half with Wexford defender Damien Reck and Offaly midfielder Dan Ravenhill replaced. Ravenhill got an important point before being replaced and Dan Bourke's 17th minute strike kept Offaly ticking along.
Wexford continued to impress as the better team and were 1-9 to 0-5 ahead after 22 minutes. Offaly played some of their best hurling in the next few minutes. Brian Duignan pointed from play and Eoghan Cahill converted three frees to narrow the gap to four with 32 minutes played. Wexford got two of the last three points for that half time lead and it was still all to play for.
Wexford continued to look more likely winners in the third quarter, leaving by 1-14 to 0-13 when the game turned in the 48th minute when Conor Foley was sent off after pulling down Brian Duignan, getting a black to go with his earlier yellow. The brilliant Eoghan Cahill scored the penalty and Offaly had to wait until the 57th minute to get their first second half score from play, an Adam Screeney goal to give them the lead for the first time, 2-13 to 1-14.
Offaly were 2-15 to 1-14 ahead when Kevin Foley gave Wexford a lifeline with a 60th minute goal. Offaly were sensational in the closing quarter, playing their best hurling of the evening by a mile. Goalkeeper Liam Hoare started the victory margin with a huge point from distance. Eoghan Cahill, Dan Bourke and Brian Duignan also got great points as the large Offaly support got behind their team.
They were 2-21 to 2-15 ahead going into four minutes of injury time and held on for a very important win.
E Cahill 1-12 (8f, 1-0 pen), A Screeney 1-1, D Bourke 0-3, L Hoare (1f) and B Duignan 0-2 each, D Ravenhill 0-1.
L Chin 0-6 (5f), S Donohue 1-2, K Foley 1-0, S Roche 0-2, D O'Leary, C Hearne, R Banville, J O'Connor, C Molloy 0-1 each.
L Hoare; C Burke, B Conneely, P Taaffe; R Ravenhill, K Sampson, T Guinan; C King, D Ravenhill; S Rigney, C Doyle, D Bourke; E Cahill, B Duignan, A Screeney.
O Kelly for Dan Ravenhill (22).
M Fanning; D Carley, L Ryan, S Donohoe; D Reck, R Lawlor, N Murphy; D O'Leary, C Hearne; R Banville, L Chin, J O'Connor; K Foley, S Roche, C Byrne.
C Foley for Recks (18inj), C Molloy for Carley (47), D Clarke for Ryan (51), Cian Byrne for O'Connor (63), J Byrne for Cillian Byrne (64).
S Stack (Dublin).
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