Daly’s Dubs rise to the challenge in Offaly win
SENIOR HURLING CHALLENGE
DUBLIN………………………………………… 1-17
OFFALY………………………………………… 2-10
By Daire Walsh
A STRONG finish made all the difference for Dublin in Sancta Maria College last night, as Anthony Daly’s charges continued their pre-championship preparations with a narrow victory over Offaly in a scrappy challenge encounter.
In a game that marked the opening of the brand-new Ballyboden St Enda’s Skills Wall, Dublin fielded a strong line-up, which included local quartet Conal Keaney, Conor McCormack, Niall McMorrow and Paul Ryan.
In adverse weather conditions, the Dubs opened strongly but the Faithful county received what looked like a lifeline on 22 minutes when referee Paud O’Dwyer awarded the visitors a penalty but Shane Dooley’s strike from 13 metres was turned away effectively.
DESERVED
This was a significant let-off for Dublin, and with Boden duo Keaney and Ryan adding quick-fire points, Dublin brought a deserved 0-9 to 0-4 cushion into the dressing room at the break.
Brian Whelehan’s charges emerged for the second period with greater confidence, and goals from Joe Bergin and Dooley helped their cause.
But Dublin’s superior reserves told eventually, though, and with McMorrow, Mark Schutte and Alan McCrabbe all adding to substitute David Treacy’s decisive 1-1 haul, they had four points to spare in the end.
SCORERS – DUBLIN: P Ryan (3f), M Schutte 0-4 each, D Treacy 1-1, N McMorrow 0-3, S McGrath 0-2, A McCrabbe (f), J Doughan, C Keaney 0-1 each. OFFALY: J Bergin 1-2 (0-2f), S Dooley 1-1, B Carroll 0-4, B Harding, S Ryan, S Gardener 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: S Chester; R Trainor, P Schutte, S Timlin; J Boland, M Carton, J Doughan; M Quilty, J McCaffrey; C Keaney, C McCormack, N McMorrow; P Ryan, M Schutte, S McGrath.
Subs: K Byrne, E Dillon, O Gough, S Hiney, A McCrabbe, D O’Callaghan, D Treacy.
OFFALY: J Dempsey; N Wynne, R Hannify, B Harding; E Nolan, D Morkam, C Parlon; S Gardener, S Ryan; T Geraghty, S Dooley, D Currams; B Carroll, K Connelly, J Bergin.
Subs: K Brady, Ciaran Slevin.
REFEREE: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).