Offaly dilemma after final draw

Johnny Dooley scored a 65 with the last puck of yesterday's Offaly senior hurling final in Birr to level the scores and leave the county with a dilemma similar to Galway's last week.

The Offaly champions are due to play in the Leinster club championship next Sunday.

On a pitch that cut up badly following the minor final played as a curtain-raiser, the standard of hurling did not live up to expectations. But the excitement compensated as Seir Kieran made up interval arrears of six points. If their equalising point was delayed to the very limit, it was nevertheless deserved reward for a fusion of courage and strength.

The game was a personal triumph for Johnny Dooley, for his equalising point crowned a remarkable exhibition of accurate free-taking and brought his tally for the hour to 10 points. Indeed, the entire Seir Kieran score was compiled by the Dooley brothers, with Joe getting two points and Billy one.

Joe Dooley, who had a quiet game by his own standard at midfield where Paudie Mulhare and Michael Rigney dominated, interrupted a continental holiday to return for the final.

St Rynagh's led at half-time by 1-5 to 0-2, their goal being a great individual effort by Michael Duignan four minutes before halftime when he slipped through a gap in the defence to blast an unstoppable shot past Liam Coughlan. However, the Banagher side also missed many scoring chances when playing with the wind in a game in which defences were on top.

In the second half Seir Kieran made better use of wind advantage, but they never enjoyed the luxury of a lead, as each time they got close on the scoreboard St Rynagh's conjured up a score or two to remain in front.

SEIR KIERAN: L Coughlan; P Scully, K Kinahan, P Connors; D Murphy, G Connors, J Coakley; Joe Dooley (0-2), J Guinan; Johnny Dooley (0-10), M Coughlan, K Kealey; B Dooley (0-1), M Mulrooney, T J Dooley. Subs: E Coughlan for Mulrooney, F O'Neill for T J Dooley.

ST RYNAGH'S: D Hughes; S Rigney, S McGuckin, M Hanamy; R Mannion, H Rigney, E McHugh; M Rigney (0-2), P Mulhare (0-1); F Dolan (0-1), M Duignan (1-1), E Martin (0-5); R Devery, K Flannery, M Conneely. Sub: T Moylan for Flannery.

Referee: D Lawless (Kilcormac-Killoughey).