Unlucky defeat sends fired up Offaly into winner takes all relegation shootout

OFFALY were within touching distance of a famous win as they eventually succumbed to an unlucky defeat to Wexford in round 4 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Wexford Park on Saturday evening.

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 4

Wexford 2-17

Offaly 1-17

A stunning Lee Chin goal two minutes into injury time secured the win for a very relieved Wexford side as Offaly went toe to toe with them the whole way.

You couldn't argue that Wexford deserved to win over the balance of the seventy minutes plus but the home side wouldn't have had a hard luck story to tell if they had ended up on the losing side. It was such a close run thing and with the sides level going into injury time, it certainly could have went either way.

The outcome was a bitter pill for Offaly to swallow. They now go into a winner take all relegation shooutout with Antrim in Tullamore next Sunday and while the northerners lay down against Galway earlier in the afternoon, this performance should do Offaly a lot of good.

They had suffered bad defeats at the hand of Galway and Kilkenny in their last two games and a third loss of this nature might have done a lot of harm. They gave a really heart warming performance here, full of guts and spirit. Their work rate and intensity levels were where they needed to be throughout the field and it almost resulted in the win.

They rang the changes from the Kilkenny game with Jason Sampson moved into the full forward line and Sam Bourke starting in defence. They also changed their tactics with Mark Troy going long a lot more frequently from puckouts and this worked to a large extent as Offaly won their share while they weren't opened up if short ones broke down on their own half back line or in midfield.

It would have taken very little more for Offaly to have won and a couple of breaks might have changed it. Lee Chin ended up Wexford's match winner and it was always likely that he would be the difference between the teams. By his own sky high standards, he was well marshalled by a very hard working Offaly defence while he missed more than his share of frees but he delivered when it really counted,

He got a mammoth free to level it up at 1-16 each in the 69^th minute, followed two minutes later by a lead point from sub Darragh Carley. His sensational goal gave Wexford a four point lead and Brian Duignan opted to take his point with a 73^rd minute. They lofted a late free into the danger zone but Wexford had the numbers back and held on for the win.

While defeat was Offaly's lot against Dublin and Wexford, they have partly achieved one of their big goals for this season – closing the gap on these two and then bypassing them in the coming years. Their performances on the road in Parnell Park and Wexford Park showed that they are moving in the right direction for this but they must retain their status next Sunday in Tullamore to build on it.

Playing with a strong wind in the first half, it was clear that Offaly were up for this one as they rattled Wexford with everything they had from the start. An excellent Brian Duignan goal helped them to a 1-2 to no score lead after six minutes and Wexford's first point was a Chin free in the seventh minute. Kevin Foley's goal made it 1-1 to 1-3 after eleven minutes but Offaly's defence was magnificent in the first half.

Wexford's first point from play didn't come until the 29^th minute when Kevin Foley slotted over and they only managed 1-1 from play in the first half. That was a serious achievement by Offaly, even if Wexford had some very poor wides from play and frees. Offaly had scored three on the run, two of them from Killian Sampson, to give them a 1-7 to 1-2 lead before Foley's score. A point from the exceptional Ross Ravenhill gave them a 1-10 to 1-6 half time lead

While it was a four or five point wind, that lead gave Offaly a fighting chance in the second half and they battled with fierce determination. Wexford did move with greater intent but were doing everything under pressure and Offaly were still three points to the good, 1-12 to 1-9 after 40 minutes.

Jack O'Connor's point got it back to level terms after 51 minutes and Brian Duignan and Chin exchanged frees to leave it all square, 1-13 each after 56 minutes. You had to admire the resolve of Offaly as they fought for everything. Duignan edged them two clear with two frees by the 60^th minute. Wexford got back on terms and Dan Ravenhill put them back in front with a 67^th minute '65'.

Unfortunately, Offaly couldn't close it out from here as Wexford got those late scores for an extremely hard earned win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ross Ravenhill (Offaly): Ross Ravenhill had a massive game for Offaly. One of the unsung heroes on the Offaly side, the Durrow man doesn't have the same high profile as some of his club and Ballinamere colleagues but he brings so much to the table for Offaly. His physicality is a huge asset and he got through a mountain of work, putting in hard hits, putting the hurl in, getting a great point and stopping players in their tracks.

Mark Troy, Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely,. Colin Spain, Killian Sampson, Dan Bourke, Brian Duignan and Dan Ravenhill all played their hearts out on a day when every Offaly player emptied the tank – David King showed his vast experience when introduced while credit to Jason Sampson, who did his utmost in the attack before tiring in the second half.

THE SCORERS

Wexford: Lee Chin 1-8 (7f and 1'65'), Kevin Foley 1-1, Cian Byrne 0-2, Cian Molloy, Conor Hearne, Cathal Dunbar, Jack O'Connopr, Rory O'Connor, Conor McDonald 0-1 each.

Offaly: Brian Duignan 1-9 (9f), Dan Ravenhill 0-3 (1f and 1 '65), Killian Sampson 0-2, Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Dan Bourke 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Ciaran Burke (Durrow), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown), Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Donal Shirley (Tubber), Sam Bourke (Durrow); Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Dan Bourke (Durrow), Brian Duignan (Durrow); Oisin Kelly (Belmont); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Jason Sampson (Shinrone), . Subs – David King (Coolderry) for King, inj. (34m), Jack Clancy (Belmont) for Jason Sampson (55m), Eoghan Cahill (Birr) for Mitchell (64m), Eoin Burke (Coolderry) for Dan Ravenhill (70m).

WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Cian Molloy, Darragh Carley, Simon Donohue; Conor Foley, Damien Reck, Eoin Ryan; Conor Hearne, Cathal Dunbar; Jack O'Connor, Lee Chin, Kevin Foley; Seamus Casey, Rory O'Connor, Cian Byrne. Subs – Conor McDonald for Casey (59m), Mikie Dwyer for Byrne (65m), Simon Roche for Jack O'Connor (64m).

Referee – Shane Hynes (Galway).

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Hynes had a very good game. He let it run and was consistent, though there were a few times when he could have allowed Offaly an advantage.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Lee Chin's goal was the moment when the game was won and lost.

VENUE WATCH

The great weather has every GAA ground in the country looking really well and Wexford Park was no different. The home county were professional hosts.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly host Antrim next Sunday.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 9 (5 in first half); Wexford – 13 (8 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 2 (Cathal King and Oisin Kelly); Wexford – 3 (Cian Molloy, Rory O'Connor, Declan Carley).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0