Offaly GAA

Michael Hogan Cup

Offaly 4-10 South Kilkenny 3-12

Offaly hurling received a huge shot in the arm this afternoon in Nowlan Park in Kilkenny when they survived a breathless finish in the Celtic Challenge division one final, securing the Corn Michael Hogan by a single point, 4-10 to 3-12.

The foundations for the victory were laid in the first half when the Faithful County struck three of their goals, building up a nine point lead. Freetaker Darragh Tierney was their leading scorer with eight points from placed balls but corner forward Oisín Hickey was the first to show that he too could finish, when he sprinted through the South Kilkenny cover and picked out the bottom corner of the net.

Full forward Michael Milne and John Murphy added further goals to make it 3-8 to 0-8 at half time, but anyone in the crowd waiting on the traditional third quarter surge from a team of Kilkenny men wasn’t going to be disappointed as the Southern Cats burst out of the blocks and put Offaly under pressure with an early goal from Ethan Phelan.

A point from John Murphy settled Offaly’s nerves and while the wind was favouring South Kilkenny, a light shower of misty rain made conditions difficult for both teams. Ten scoreless minutes were brought to an end when Bill Delahunty tapped the sliothar to the net from close range and when Daithí Barron added his fourth point from a free immediately afterwards, all the pressure was on Offaly.

A wonderful overhead flick from John Murphy gave them breathing room but it didn’t last as Niall Hayden drove a free to their net with a minute of injury time still to play. A free at midfield offered South Kilkenny a chance to send the game into extra time but Evan Shefflin’s effort tailed narrowly wide, ensuring that Offaly will go down in history as the first ever winners of the Celtic challenge.

The Offaly panel was: Conor Brophill (Na Fianna), Dominic Healy (St Rynagh’s), Ross Connaughton (CRC Gaels), Jack Bourke (Shinrone), Aiden King (CRC Gaels), Timmy Cox (St Rynagh’s), Ryan Hogan (CRC Gaels), Oisin Murphy (Birr), Darragh Tierney (St Rynagh’s) Capt. Cillian Ryan (Shinrone), Cillian Troy (Lusmagh), Brendan Hoctor (CRC Gaels), Ciaran Guinan (Drumcullen), Michael Milne (Birr), Oisin Hickey (St Rynagh’s), Dan Wyer (Ballinamere/Durrow), Barry Moylan (St Rynagh’s), Cathal O’Meara (Clara), John Murphy (Ballinamere/Durrow), Denis Healy (St Rynagh’s), Mark Newman (Clara), Joe Daly (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Jack Pardy (Birr), Carolan Flanagan (Na Fianna), Kevin Daly (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Evan Gorman (Na Fianna), Paul Lynam (Ballinamere/Durrow), Rory Gleeson (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Ger Buckley (Brosna Gaels)

Team Management: Eunan Martin (Manager), Eamonn Hoctor, Liam Bergin, Michael Cleary