O'TOOLE'S of Dublin looked well on their way to their first ever Leinster club SH final 20 minutes into this game, but Offaly champions Seir Kieran fought their way back for a memorable semi-final draw.
The game at Portlaoise saw the Dublin side race into a six-point lend after just 15 minutes. When they were awarded a penalty after 19 minutes, Eamonn Morrissey drove the ball all the way to the Offaly net for a 1-9 to 0-2 lead.
Seir Kieran made a recovery in the final 10 minutes of the half and were rewarded for their efforts a minute before half-time when Mick Mulrooney shot their opening goal to leave them trailing at half-time by 1-13 to 1-5.
The second half was just a minute old when the Dublin champions were reduced to 14 men after Joe Morris was sent to the line. Seir Kieran took full advantage of the sending off and shot five unanswered points. When Joe Dooley shot a goal after 18 minutes of the half, only four points separated the sides.
Morrissey then moved to centre forward and he scored the Dublin club's last score in the 53rd minute.
Seir Kieran fought back and five minutes from time substitute Jimmy Connors finished a Joe Dooley free to the net, leaving only two points separating the sides. Three minutes from time Johnny Dooley cut the deficit to a single point.
Following an off-the-ball incident, the referee sent a player from each side - Paul Gettings and James Connors - to the line. A Johnny Dooley free from 80 metres brought the sides level. The teams meet again next Saturday.
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