Sport

Dublin progress as Offaly misfire

Dublin 2-6 Offaly 1-8: Dublin, who won their last provincial title at under-21 level defeating Offaly 33 years ago, are through…

Thu Jun 23 2005 - 01:00

Dublin 2-6 Offaly 1-8: Dublin, who won their last provincial title at under-21 level defeating Offaly 33 years ago, are through to their second final in three years as a result of a narrow victory over a disappointing Offaly side at Portlaoise last night.

Offaly looked the superior side in the opening half. A goal by Dylan Hayden saw them lead 1-2 to 0-2 at the end of the quarter. They stretched their advantage with points from Hayden, Ciarán Slevin and substitute Eamonn Lee, but Dublin responded with points from Stuart Mullen and Michael Carton. On the stroke of half-time, Peadar Carton scored a great goal for Dublin to leave them only two points behind at the break, 1-6 to 1-4.

On the resumption Dublin's Stuart Mullen and Offaly's Alan Egan traded points but then a fine Dublin move saw Peadar Carton set up Graham Morris for Dublin's second goal to put them ahead with 15 minutes remaining.

Dublin would not score again until Aidan Glennon scored a point from an acute angle to put his side ahead and although Offaly had three golden chances of an equaliser they hit three bad wides.

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Dublin now face Kilkenny in the provincial final on July 20th.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; G O'Meara, C O'Brien, D O'Reilly; D Byrne, R Fallon, C Billings; W Lowry, M Carton (0-1); E Moran, T Sweeney, S Mullen (0-4); P Carton (1-0), G Morris (1-0), A Glennon (0-1). Subs: S Lehane for S Mullen; A McCrabbe for G Morris.

OFFALY: R Murray; M Corrigan, K Grogan, K Bermingham; D Hoctor, C Horan, A Corcoran; N Rogers, A Middleton; C Parlon, T Bennett (0-1), D Hayden (1-1); C Slevin (0-4), E Bevins, A Egan (0-1). Subs: E Lee (0-1) for E Bevins; G O'Grady for T Bennett; K Saddler for A Middleton; P Cleary for C Horan.

Referee: F Smith (Meath).

GAA officials have been warned the new All-Ireland hurling qualifier competition will not be a success until it is marketed properly. The warning comes from the Galway hurling management after a paltry crowd of about 2,000 turned out in Portlaoise for their opening round tie with Laois on Saturday evening. Galway selector Gerry Dempsey said staging a match at 7pm on a Saturday was a turn-off for fans, and a greater effort was needed to promote the concept.