Offaly Complete Division 2A Hurling Campaign In Style
Allianz Hurling League Division 2A
Offaly 1-32, Wicklow 0-10
Offaly capped off a progressive Allianz League campaign with a victory over Wicklow in Blessington, with some of the subs in previous games taking the opportunity to impress manager Michael Fennelly.
While this wasn’t a final as such as Offaly had already guaranteed their spot at the top of the game with wins over Meath, Kerry, Carlow and Down, GAA President Larry McCarthy attended the game to present the Cup to team captain, Ben Conneely.
Long-serving Shane Dooley was the scorer in chief, with a tally of 17 points including 13 frees and a ‘65’. Among the other prominent scorers were John Murphy, who netted the only goal of the game and finished with 1-3, and St Rynagh’s Luke O’Connor with 0-5.
Offaly were in control throughout and led by 16 points to no score after 30 minutes. At half time, the scoreboard read 1-18 to 0-2 and there was little change after the break.
The Faithful County now look forward to the Christy Ring Cup campaign which begins in the first weekend of July.
THE SCORERS
Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-17 (13f and 1 “65”), John Murphy 1-3, Luke O’Connor 0-5, Aidan Treacy 0-2, Joey Keenaghan, Conor Langton, Damien Egan, Adrian Cleary and Aaron Maher 0-1 each.
Wicklow: Daniel Staunton (1f), Andy O’Brien and Jack Doyle 0-2 each, Gary Byrne, Eamon Kearns, Mikey Lee and Christy Moorehouse (f) 0-1 each.
OFFALY: Stephen Corcoran (Coolderry); Padraig Cantwell (Shamrocks), Jordan Quinn (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Paddy Rigney (Kinnitty); Padraic Guinan (Drumcullen), Joey Keenaghan (Clodiagh Gaels), Aidan Treacy (St Rynagh’s); David Nally (Belmont), Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh); John Murphy (Ballinamere), Conor Langton (Clodiagh Gaels), Damien Egan (Belmont); Morgan Watkins (Birr), Shane Dooley (Tullamore), Luke O’Connor (St Rynagh’s). Subs – Aaron Maher (Ballinamere) for Watkins (Half time), Adrian Cleary (Shinrone) for Kelly (43m), Rory Carty (Birr) for Guinan (43m), Eamon Cleary (Shinrone) for Corcoran (65m), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s) for Keenaghan (65m).
WICKLOW: Cian Staunton; Mark Murphy, Bryan Kearney, Peter Keane; Gary Byrne, John Henderson, Daniel Staunton; Jack Doyle, Shaun Cranley; Padraig Doran, Eamon Kearns, Christy Moorehouse; Gary Hughes, Andy O’Brien, Ciaran Breen. Subs – Mikey Lee for Breen (28m), Wayne Kinsella for Moorehouse (35m +3), Eoin McCormack for Doran (43m), Gavin Weir for Murphy(54m), Michael Mangan for Keane (65m), Tony Mulcrony for Kearns (65m).
Referee – David Hughes (Kilkenny).
