Leinster SHC: Improving Offaly triumph again
Liam Hoare, Offaly, and Jack O'Connor, Wexford, in Leinster SHC action at Glenisk O'Connor Park. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Offaly 2-21 Wexford 2-15
This was another hugely encouraging evening for Offaly in Tullamore.
Johnny Kelly's improving outfit secured Leinster SHC status, but the Faithful will enter the last round of group fixtures eager to secure a top three finish.
Reaching the All-Ireland series is a distinct possibility for Offaly, who overcame a shaky start to defeat Wexford for the first time in the Championship since 2012.
The visitors' were bright initially accumulating a seven point advantage by the 16th minute, 1-6 to 0-2.
In the 15th minute the effective Simon Donohoe struck a goal for Keith Rossiter's team, who went in 1-12 to 0-10 ahead at the break.
After the restart, though, Offaly trimmed the deficit down to four in the 48th minute when Wexford substitute Conor Foley was sent off for a foul on Brian Duignan.
From the resultant penalty, Eoghan Cahill, who starred for Offaly rattled the Wexford net.
Cahill, who concluded the match with a 1-12 haul, turned provider for Adam Screeney to score a 57th minute goal.
Wexford did reply courtesy of a Kevin Foley major with 10 minutes remaining, but a determined Offaly weren't bothered.
Scorers for Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 1-12 (1-0 pen, 8fs), Adam Screeney 1-1, Dan Bourke 0-3, Brian Duigan and Liam Hoare (1f) 0-2 each, Dan Ravenhill 0-1.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-6 (5fs), Simon Donohoe 1-2, Kevin Foley 1-0, Simon Roche 0-2, Ross Banville, Diarmuid O'Leary, Jack O'Connor, Cian Molloy, and Conor Hearne 0-1 each.
Offaly: Liam Hoare; Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely, Patrick Taaffe; Ross Ravenhill, Killian Sampson, Ter Guinan; Cathal King, Dan Ravenhill; Shane Rigney, Conor Doyle, Dan Bourke; Eoghan Cahill, Brian Duignan, Adam Screeney.
Subs: Oisin Kelly for Dan Ravenhill (22).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Darragh Carley, Liam Ryan, Simon Donohoe; Damien Reck, Richie Lawlor, Niall Murphy; Diarmuid O'Leary, Conor Hearne; Ross Banville, Lee Chin, Jack O'Connor; Kevin Foley, Simon Roche, Cillian Byrne.
Subs: Conor Foley for Reck (18), Cian Molloy for Carley (47), David Clarke for Ryan (51), Cian Byrne for O'Connor (63), James Byrne for Cillian Byrne (64).
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin).
