EirGrid Leinster U20 FC: Offaly 2-6, Louth 0-9
Two goals from Sean Courtney showed Offaly the way in a hard-earned victory over Louth in the EirGrid Leinster Under 20 Football Championship in Dunleer on Saturday.
The Cappincur forward started the game in place of the injured Jack Bryant and made a big impact with key scores in the 13th and 33rd minutes.
Conditions were tough for both teams, with very blustery conditions, and Offaly were happy to only trail by 0-6 to 1-1 at the interval, having played against the stiff breeze. Along with the goal, Offaly’s only other score in the opening 30 minutes was a Cormac Delaney point.
The second half wasn’t for the faint-hearted. Sean Courtney’s second goal was a huge boost for Offaly, and it was soon followed by an Aaron Kellaghan point.
But it wasn’t one-way traffic from then on, as Louth battled away gamely. Offaly added further points from Cathal Flynn and Mikey Cunningham to lead by 2-4 to 0-8 at the three-quarter stage.
The Faithful County always maintained a slender lead, though it was down to one point before Kellaghan struck again with two more points (one free) as Offaly advanced to meet Kildare in a quarter-final next Saturday.
Offaly Scorers: Sean Courtney 2-0; Aaron Kellaghan (0-1f) 0-3; Cormac Delaney, Cathal Flynn, Mikey Cunningham 0-1 each.
OFFALY: Sean O’Toole (Shamrocks); Fionn Dempsey (Bracknagh), Adam Bolger (Daingean), Clive Keena (Ballycumber); Lee Pearson (Edenderry), Aidan Bracken (Ballycommon), Aaron Brazil (Shannonbridge); Bill Carroll (Cappincur), Cathal Donoghue (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Cathal Flynn (Ferbane), Cormac Delaney (Clara), Kevin McDermott (Durrow); Mikey Cunningham (Bracknagh), Sean Courtney (Cappincur), Aaron Kellaghan (Rhode). Sub – Sean Flynn (Ferbane) for Delaney (49m).
By kenny Sat 8th Feb
