Fired up Offaly just miss famous win but glad of point in super shootout

IT is a measure of how well Offaly played, how hard they fought that there was a sense of anti-climax and disappointment when they had to settle for a draw with favourites Dublin in a quite magnificent Leinster Senior Hurling Championship shootout in O'Connor Park on Saturday evening.

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship round 1

Offaly 4-22

Dublin 2-28

Offaly certainly satisfied their first requirement of turning up and performing and it almost resulted in a season making win as Dublin's final equaliser came from Donal Burke near the end of the three announced minutes of injury time – though the referee James Owens allowed an additional minute and a frantic Dublin mounted one last attack but a desperate Offaly managed to repel it.

The sense that this was an opportunity missed is heightened by the fact that Offaly spurned a great chance of a match winning goal in injury time. Shane Rigney, scorer of a breathtaking first half goal, looked certain to win the game for Offaly when bearing down on goal in the 71^st minute with the sides level at 4-21 to 2-27. He got in a clean strike but possibly didn't catch it as well as he would have liked and Sean Brennan made a great save in the Dublin goals.

The ball was brought back for an earlier foul and Adam Screeney converted the free to put them ahead. Victory was within sight and Offaly had the ball up the field again with Dan Bourke advancing in space but the attack broke down and Dublin lived for Donal Burke, a man with Offaly connections, to equalise.

Over the course of the seventy minutes plus, a draw was probably a fair result. There was a chance for Offaly to win the game but there is no way that anyone can be disappointed with or pick holes in this display. You could not take your eyes off proceedings for a second as two fired up sides went toe to toe, throwing the kitchen sink at each other.

While Offaly had their chances and were punished for some errors, this was a great result for them, an important next step for them on their hurling journey. And when supporters reflect on it in the cold light of day, they will know that it was also a point gained, that they could very easily have been beaten and snatched a result on pure guts and character. There were times when it seemed that Dublin couldn't miss, there were stages when it seemed that Offaly were making too many mistakes, giving away soft ball, yet they survived, they kept going and there will be a lot of sore bodies in their camp this week as they focus on Galway next week.

It was a big result for Offaly as Dublin had an edge in physicality and several Offaly players were clearly out on their feet, in the red and living on their wits in the closing quarter, yet they kept going, kept fighting for everything and got a result that they would gladly have settled for before hand.

It was obvious from the start that Offaly had turned up and would be competitive. The opening exchanges were tame enough with Dublin 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after ten minutes but it sprung to life then with two goals in the space of a minute. Brian Hayes drew first blood for Dublin but Offaly bit back immediately with Adam Screeney sending Brian Duignan in for a home three pointer.

It was nip and tuck from here to the interval. Offaly were level 1-7 each after eighteen minutes but Dublin's shooting was top drawer stuff. Even though both sides had five wides in the first half, Dublin had more possession and converted a large percentage of this into scores.

They were 1-11 to 1-8 up after 21 minutes, 1-14 to 1-11 in the 29^th minute. They led by 1-16 to 1-13 with 31 gone and a minute later, the large Offaly support rose in celebration with a stunningly brilliant goal as Shane Rigney raced down the throats of the Dublin defence and drove a low shot into the net to level it up. Brian Hayes and Donal Burke (free) got the closing points to give Dublin a 1-18 to 2-13 half time lead.

The excitement levels reached fever pitch in the second half. After an early point from the outstanding Conor Burke, Adam Screeney equalised for Offaly with a sensational goal, cutting in from the left with only one thing on his mind in the 36^th minute and finding the net with typical confidence. Unfortunately for Offaly, they couldn't build on that as Conor Donoghue hit back immediately with a Dublin goal.

Conor Burke added a point for a lead of four but Offaly sensed fragility. Charlie Mitchell made a superb return to action after missing the season to date following a heart scare and his 43^rd minute goal following great work by Killian Sampson levelled it at 4-15 to 2-21. Adam Screeney floated over a delicious point to give Offaly the lead and now the only question was would their legs hold up.

There were times when it looked like they wouldn't but their sheer desire and heart sustained them when their legs wouldn't go. Dublin led by 2-23 to 4-16 after 49 points and two Adam Screeney frees on each side of a Dan Bourke point gave Offaly a two point lead with 56 minutes gone. Dublin got three of the next four points to make it a a draw match, 2-26 to 4-20 with just three minutes of normal time left.

Mitchell put Offaly ahead, Donal Burke equalised from a free and in a frantic few minutes of added time, Adam Screeney and Burke exchanged those points to leave it all square at full time.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Killian Sampson (Offaly): There were several contenders on both sides. Conor Burke and Donal Burke were close contenders for Dublin and Offaly had so many players who stood up to be counted.

Ben Conneely put in a terrific shift at full back and Ross Ravenhill's physicality and ability to stop runners was absolutely crucial on a day when Dublin did have an edge in running power – they were very slick at times with their passing and off shoulder running. Patrick Taaffe also deserves a special mention in defence as he did some trojan work.

Dan Bourke performed up front, oozing class and Adam Screeney was a livewire with Dublin on high alert every time the ball went near him. Brian Duignan tried so hard until his legs went in the closing quarter and Charlie Mitchell was quite brilliant, taking big hits, and inspiring his team mates with his desire and running.

My choice is centre half back Killian Sampson. He struggled a bit early on in the first half but came to his milk coming up towards half time when he was involved in some big plays. He had a great second half as he mopped up a lot of ball, stopped players and got forward to create opportunities for the forwards. He was one of the players who lasted the distance and while you could make a strong case for Ross Ravenhill and Ben Conneely, Sampson just got better and better as the game wore on – and without his breaks from defence, Offaly may not have got a result.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Adam Screeney 1-9 (8f), Charlie Mitchell 1-3, Brian Duignan 1-2, Shane Rigney 1-0, Dan Bourke 0-3, Liam Hoare (f), Ter Guinan, Dan Ravenhill, Conor Doyle, Colin Spain 0-1 each.

Dublin: Donal Burke 0-11 (9f), Conor Donoghue 1-2, Conor Burke 0-4, Brian Hayes 1-1, Fergal Whitely Darragh Power, Cian O'Sullivan 0-2 each, Chris Crummey, Paddy Doyle, Dara Purcell Ronan Hayes 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Liam Hoare (Carrig-Riverstown); Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown); Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's), Dan Bourke (Durrow), Conor Doyle (Clara); Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for King (HT), Ciaran Burke (Durrow) for Kavanagh (HT), Jack Clancy (Belmont) for Guinan (65m), Oisin Kelly (Belmont) for Dan Ravenhill (68m),

DUBLIN: Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Conor McHugh; Eoghan O'Donnell, Chris Crummey, Conor Burke; Paddy Doyle, Conor Donoghue; Fergal Whitely, Brian Hayes, Darragh Power; John Hetherton, Donal Burke, Cian O'Sullivan. Subs – Ronan Hayes for Doyle (47m), Andy Dunphy for McHugh (54m), Andy Dunphy for McHugh (54m), Dara Purcell for Donoghue (65m),

Referee – James Owens (Wexford).

REFEREE WATCH

The Offaly supporters made their displeasure at James Owens known coming up to half time and he may have been hard on the home county a couple of times. Brian Duignan looked entitled to a free in coming up to half time and there were times when Dublin got soft enough frees but Shane Rigney may have taken steps at the start of his run for his brilliant goal and it may have been a case of swings and round abouts.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Offaly scored some brilliant goals. The ones by Shane Rigney and Adam Screeney were worth the admission alone and it seems also shameful to focus on one that was missed but had Shane Rigney converted his injury time chance, Offaly probably would have won and Dublin may not have had a way back.

VENUE WATCH

A large crowd created a good atmosphere. The pitch was perfect for hurling and contions good with a light wind. The County Board had a full quota of stewards to manage the fixture.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly travel to Pearse Stadium in Galway next Sunday for round 2.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 7 (5 in first half); Dublin - 8 (5 in first half).
Yellow cards: Offaly – 3 (Colin Spain, Ciaran Burke, Ross Ravenhill); Dublin – 5 (Paddy Doyle, Conor Donoghue, John Hetheron, Darragh Powers, Andy Dunphy).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0