50th anniversary of one that got away for Offaly U-21 hurlers

2022 is the 50th anniversary of one that got away for Offaly hurling. In 1972, Offaly were just pipped by Dublin in the Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship final, losing out to a dramatic last minute goal.

It was Offaly's first ever appearance in the final and they played some great hurling on the day. They were five points to the good with two minutes to go but unfortunately it all unravelled in the dying moments.

That Offaly team featured Shinrone's Joe McKenna – he transferred to Limerick a year later, starring at corner forward as they won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1973 – he was full forward when they lost to Galway in the 1980 All-Ireland final.

Six years later in 1978, Offaly won the Leinster U-21 Hurling Champioinship for the first time and many of that team played heroic roles as Offaly won their first Leinster senior hurling title in 1980 and All-Ireland a year later.

Front, left to right, Finbarr Ryan, Jimmy Egan, Kieran Mooney, Pat Dooley, Colm Bermingham, Brendan Mannion, Eddie Nolan, Fintan Lawlor, Matt Corrigan, Ger Woods, Paudge Bennett. Back Des Dooley, Louis Campion, Joe McKenna, Christy King, John Tooher, Nicholas Quinn, Aidan Daly, Kieran Claffey, Michael Hennessy.