Sport

Dublin pipped

All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round Three/Offaly 2-15 Dublin 2-14: A second-half collapse almost saw Offaly fall to an embarrassing…

Mon Jul 11 2005 - 01:00

All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round Three/Offaly 2-15 Dublin 2-14: A second-half collapse almost saw Offaly fall to an embarrassing defeat at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon before injury-time points from Damien Murray and Aidan Hanrahan saved their blushes against a vastly improved Dublin side.

Dublin, who trailed by 10 points with 25 minutes left, amazingly fought their way back into the game, a stunning strike from substitute Stephen McDonnell two minutes from time putting them in front for the briefest of periods before Offaly's decisive rally.

Such drama seemed far from possible after a first half dominated by Offaly, with goals from Dylan Hayden and Michael Cordial helping the Faithful county to a 2-7 to 0-6 advantage at the break.

Dublin, who haven't won a league or championship game all season, still struggled to get into the game in the early stages of the second half, as Brian Carroll knocked over the first three points of the half from frees.

READ MORE

Dublin then came roaring back, however, first with points, and then with two dramatic goals, substitutes Peadar Carton and McDonnell getting the crucial strikes.

And yet Offaly just about managed to get out of jail at the death, but they will surely go into the relegation playoffs with some self-induced apprehension. Dublin on the other hand will now be confident that they can break their winless run in the play-offs and escape relegation.

OFFALY: B Mullins; K Brady, G Oakley, P Cleary; Brian Whelahan (0-1, free), R Hanniffy, B Teehan; M Cordial (1-0), G Hanniffy; B Murphy (0-1), M O'Hara (0-1), S Browne (0-1); B Carroll (0-8, four frees), A Harahan (0-2), D Hayden (1-0). Subs: N Coughlan for O'Hara (56 mins), D Murray (0-1) for Browne (58 mins), J Brady for Oakley (65 mins).

DUBLIN: G Maguire; G O'Meara, S Hiney, J Cullen; D O'Reilly, R Fallon (0-1, from 65), G Bennett; D Sweeney (0-2, one sideline cut), D Russell (0-1); E Moran, J Kingston, T Moore; E Carroll (0-5), M Carton (0-1), K Flynn (0-2). Subs: C Meehan (0-1) for Cullen (31 mins), L Ryan for Russell (40 mins), S McDonnell (1-1) for Kingston (42 mins), P Carton (1-0) for M Carton (48 mins).

Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary).