Leinster Minor Football Championship: Dublin 3-12, Offaly 0-6
The final scoreline was harsh on Offaly, but they had to settle for second best against Dublin in the Leinster Minor Football Championship at Bord na Mona O’Connor Park on Saturday, 10th July.
Offaly only trailed by two points at the break (0-7 to 0-5) and hit the opening point of the second half. However, Dublin dominated from then on and quick-fire goals in the 40th and 42nd minutes put the result beyond doubt.
Ken Furlong’s side featured a few players who lined out in the 2002 provincial final against Meath only ten days ago, so the time to prepare for this fixture was limited.
Early on, a determined Offaly side were a match for their opponents. A point apiece by Luke Bourke and Robbie Gallagher ensured it was 0-2 each at the first water break. Frees from Geordi O’Meara and another point by Marcas Dalton kept Offaly in the hunt at half time. Indeed, the Faithful County could have been ahead only for missing a couple of goal opportunities.
The first point of the second half was floated over by Donal Shirley, but Dublin’s power and pace started to make a difference and they gradually pulled away.
The scorers
Dublin: Sean Gannon 1-3 (1f), Tadgh Gorman 0-6 (3f), Scott McConnell 1-1 (1f), Mark McNally 1-0, Ciaran Duggan and Eoghan O’Connor-Flanagan 0-1 each.
Offaly: Geordi O’Meara 0-2 (2f), Donal Shirley, Marcas Dalton, Luke Bourke and Robbie Gallagher 0-1 each.
The teams
DUBLIN: Charlie Coghlan; Finn Bruton, Dan Murphy, Ronan Geoghegan; Matthew Gardiner, Greg McEneaney, David Colbert; Ciaran Duggan, Eoghan O’Connor-Flanagan; Ross Mullarkey, Mark McNally, Clyde Burke; Tadgh Gorman, Sean Gannon, Scott McConnell. Subs – Zach Delmar for Gardiner (inj., 16m), Michael O’Rowe for Mullarkey (48m), Eoin Kenny for McEneaney (52m), Karl Flynn for Gorman (54m), Stephen McMahon for Burke (57m).
OFFALY: David Dunican (Ferbane); James Mahon (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Ben Heffernan (Tullamore), Dylan Kilmurray (Rhode); Patrick Taaffe (Ferbane), Daragh McKeon (Clara), Adam Daly (Ballycumber); Geordi O’Meara (Ballinagar), Donal Shirley (Tubber); Cathal Guinan (Ballycumber), Marcus Dalton (Clara), Luke Bourke (Tullamore); Conor Dunican (Ferbane), Cian O’Reilly (Daingean), Robbie Gallagher (Ballinagar). Subs – Niall Furlong (Tullamore) for Conor Dunican (H/T), Daniel Bourke (Durrow) for O’Meara (38m), Darcy Thomas (Ballinamere) for Guinan (43m), Cathal Mahon (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for Kilmurray (48m), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for O’Reilly (56m).
Referee – Keith O’Brien.
By Offaly PRO Sat 10th Jul
