Round-up: Electric Ireland Leinster MFC action
Parnell Park, Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Leinster MFC, Round 1
Group 1
Kildare 1-12 Laois 0-9
Meath (postponed) Louth
Group 2
Dublin 3-14 Offaly 1-13
Longford (postponed) Westmeath
Group 3
Wicklow 0-14 Wexford 0-3
Carlow 4-14 Kilkenny 2-4
By Paul Keane
We stand to be corrected but Cian Raftery surely set a new scoring record as Dublin enjoyed a significant win over holders Offaly at Parnell Park.
With less than 60 seconds on the clock, the young Dublin forward had already registered 1-2, laying down the platform for the hosts to secure a prized win.
Raftery burst clear for Dublin's opening goal from the throw-in and when they then won back possession from the Offaly kick-out, Raftery pointed from outside the arc for the two-pointer.
The half forward is from the Whitehall Colmcille club who congratulated him for making the team ahead of the game, noting that their young talent is still an U-16.
Raftery continued to impress, adding a second two-pointer as Dublin opened up an early 1-4 to no score advantage.
Dublin hit the interval with a 1-7 to 0-5 lead as Offaly captain Paddy Burns rallied the Faithful with three points in response.
Offaly refused to throw in the towel and back-to-back two-pointers from James Slevin and Burns in the third quarter reduced the gap to two points.
But they couldn't get any closer than that margin as Dublin picked off timely goals from Cian O'Dwyer and Eoghan Madden to remain just out of arm's reach.
Darragh Stewart struck the Offaly goal after pouncing on a Dublin error at the back and Oliver Goulding nailed a two-point free.
Dublin finished strongly, however, with Andy McDonnell and full-forward Jamie Heavey both pointing to stretch the gap to seven by full-time.
Jack Reilly was Kildare's key man in their Group 1 win over Laois in Portlaoise, helping himself to 1-6.
Reilly netted from the penalty spot in the seventh minute and added a two-pointer from a free to help Kildare lead 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time.
Greg Kelly and Aodhán Bergin also got among the scores in the second half while Ethan Neilon top scored for Laois with four points.
In Group 3, Wicklow were comfortable winners against hosts Wexford, building on their 0-5 to 0-3 half-time lead to win by 11 points.
Seán Corrigan scored a two-pointer for Wicklow who capitalised on the stiff wind to hold Wexford scoreless in the second half.
Rian Nolan, Michael Redmond, Jack Monahan and Craig Burgess grabbed the goals for Carlow in their defeat of Kilkenny.
Carlow led by 0-8 to 1-1 at half-time and added a brace of goals after the restart along with two more in the closing minutes.
David Phelan and Sean Daly struck the goals for the Cats.
The postponed Group 2 game between Longford and Westmeath has been refixtured for Thursday evening at Allen Park, Newtownforbes (7.30pm). The outstanding Group 1 game between Meath and Louth will also take place on Thursday at a time and venue to be confirmed.
