Leinster SHC: Tullamore thriller finishes level

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Offaly 4-22 Dublin 2-28

By Kevin Egan at Glenisk O'Connor Park

Offaly and Dublin played out a thrilling contest that ultimately finished level thanks to Donal Burke whipping over a crucial score in the third minute of stoppage time.

There were stages of the contest when both sides would have felt that they were in the driving seat, but when the two management teams get their chance to draw breath next week, they’ll find it hard to argue with a share of the spoils.

Drawing breath will take a while, however, as this was enthralling viewing from start to finish, particularly from the 10th minute onwards.

At that early stage of the game it was 0-4 to 0-2 in favour of Dublin with five of the six points coming from frees, but after Conor Doyle sent over a fine point on the run, two goals in a minute completely changed the atmosphere and raised the contest to a tempo that it never really lost.

John Hetherton used his towering frame to field a high ball and turn towards goal and with a penalty advantage coming, Brian Hayes let fly on a loose ball to flash the sliotar past Liam Hoare.

In the next attack, Adam Screeney beat his man and put the ball on a plate for Brian Duignan, and the rollercoaster was up and running.

Ter Guinan, Charlie Mitchell and Danial Bourke struck some outstanding scores for Offaly, but Dublin’s hurling was this bit more clinical and precise throughout, with superb thought and method in their play.

Seán Brennan varied his puckouts and put his side on the front foot time and again, Fergal Whitely, Conor Burke and Conor Donohoe were outstanding in the trenches and up front Dublin shot just five first half wides while putting 1-18 on the board in total.

It looked like they were creeping ahead and establishing a strong foothold when Shane Rigney, on his championship debut, scythed through the centre of the Dublin defence and fired a low shot past Brennan to level the game.

Hayes and Burke nudged Dublin into the lead by half-time but this was a day when Offaly weren’t afraid to take their chances and go for broke, as evidenced by Adam Screeney turning down an easy point to take on and beat Brennan from a tight angle after half-time.

Much like Offaly did in the first half, Dublin replied with a goal of their own on the next possession. Darragh Power held possession after losing his footing and brilliantly flicked the ball away to Conor Donohoe, who hit the top corner.

Conor Burke added the next point to make it four, but Offaly didn’t go away, and they were back on level terms ten minutes into the second half through a stunning first time shot from Charlie Mitchell.

The scoring wasn’t quite as brisk for the closing 25 minutes with the two sides adding seven points each, but there were countless moments to keep the crowd enthralled all the same. Mitchell made some crucial plays to get a point of his own and set up another for Daniel Bourke, Donal and Conor Burke struck clutch points for Dublin, and a sublime save from Brennan denied Rigney what surely would have been a match-winning goal at the start of stoppage time.

Instead, play came back for Screeney to score a free, and Offaly were one up. Chris Crummey struck for the posts, Patrick Taaffe dived full-length to make a block, and Donal Burke, off balance, gave this contest one last flash of brilliance to ensure a deadlocked scoreboard at the final whistle.

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

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 0-11 (9fs), Conor Donohoe 1-2, Brian Hayes 1-1, Conor Burke 0-4, Cian O’Sullivan 0-2, Darragh Power 0-2, Chris Crummey 0-1, Paddy Doyle 0-1, Fergal Whitely 0-2, Ronan Hayes 0-1, Dara Purcell 0-1.

Offaly: Liam Hoare; Patrick Taaffe, Ben Conneely, Brecon Kavanagh; Ross Ravenhill, Killian Sampson, Ter Guinan; Dan Ravenhill, Cathal King; Shane Rigney, Conor Doyle, Daniel Bourke; Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan, Adam Screeney.

Subs: Colin Spain for King (half-time), Ciarán Burke for Kavanagh (half-time), Oisín Kelly for Mitchell (52-54, temp), Jack Clancy for Guinan (65), Oisín Kelly for D Ravenhill (69).

Dublin: Seán Brennan; Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Conor McHugh; John Bellew, Chris Crummey, Conor Burke; Paddy Doyle, Conor Donohoe; Fergal Whitely, Brian Hayes, Darragh Power; Donal Burke, John Hetherton, Cian O’Sullivan.

Subs: Ronan Hayes for Doyle (47), Andy Dunphy for McHugh (55), Dara Purcell for Donohoe (65).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).