Allianz Hurling League Division 2
Offaly 2-15, Carlow 1-17
Offaly surged clear of Carlow in the second half to record their third big win in a row in this season’s Allianz Hurling League Division 2.
With games still remaining against Down (in Birr) and Wicklow (in Aughrim), Offaly still have some work to do to achieve promotion to the top flight.
But it’s a case of so far, so good for Michael Fennelly’s charges, who followed up victories over Meath and Kerry with this latest success.
As expected, Carlow didn’t fear Offaly and held their own until half time, at which stage Offaly only led by a point – 1-11 to 1-10. The highlight of the opening 35 minutes for the Faithful County was a brilliant goal by Oisin Kelly.
The Belmont sharp-shooter’s strike in the 29th minute gave Offaly a 1-9 to 1-6 advantage, although Carlow responded well, with Martin Kavanagh in spectacular form from placed balls.
Earlier, there was little to choose between the teams, with Liam Langton, Oisin Kelly, Eoghan Cahill and Leon Fox among the scorers for Offaly.
The big breakthrough for the Faithful County came immediately after the resumption, when Eoghan Cahill fired the ball to the Carlow net after skillful build-up play by Kelly and Killian Sampson.
Offaly never looked back from then on and with Eoghan Cahill building up another impressive tally and his team mates in control all over the field, the gap went up to nine points by the 15th minute of the second half.
There was only going to be one winner from then on and the outcome leaves Offaly in a positive frame of mind ahead of the visit of Down to Birr in two weeks’ time.
THE SCORERS
Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 1-12 (9f), Oisin Kelly 1-4, Liam Langton 0-4, Leon Fox, Shane Kinsella, Brian Duignan, Aidan Treacy and John Murphy 0-1 each.
Carlow: Martin Kavanagh 0-13 (8f and 3 ’65s’), John Michael Nolan 1-0, Kevin McDonald, Craig Wall, Chris Nolan and Paul Coady 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
Offaly: Conor Clancy (St Rynaghs); Jordan Quinn (Kilcormac Killoughey), Ciarán Burke (Durrow), David King (Coolderry); Damien Egan (Belmont), Ben Conneely (St Rynaghs), Killian Sampson (Shinrone); Leon Fox (Belmont), Ross Ravenhill (Durrow); Shane Kinsella (Kinnity), Oisin Kelly (Belmont) Brian Duignan (Durrow); Liam Langton (Clodiagh Gaels), Jason Sampson (Shinrone), Eoghan Cahill (Birr). Subs – Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty) for Quinn (34m), Aidan Treacy (St Rynagh’s) for Egan (HT), John Murphy (Ballinamere) for Jason Sampson (52m), Colm Gath (Drumcullen) for Kinsella (63m), David Nally (Belmont) for Cahill (63m), Shane Dooley (Tullamore) for Duignan (67m), Luke O’Connor (St Rynagh’s) for Kelly (67m),
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Eoin Hosey, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Ger Coady, Tony Lawlor, Gary Lawlor; Jack Kavanagh, Kevin McDonald; John Michaekl Nolan, Craig Wall, Richard Coady; Martin Kavanagh, Jon Nolan, Chris Nolan. Subs – Jack McCullagh for Gary Lawlor (41m), Aaron Amond for Coady (54m), Ciaran Kavanagh for Chris Nolan (58m), Paul Coady for Wall (58m), Dion Wall for Kavanagh (60m),
Referee – Thomas Gleeson (Carlow).
By Offaly PRO Sun 23rd May
