Battling Offaly earn a well deserved point against 13 man Wexford

Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A Round 2

WEXFORD 0-20

OFFALY 1-17

OFFALY earned their first point of the Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A campaign with a richly deserved draw against Wexford under the lights at Chadwick's Wexford Park on Saturday evening.

Offaly showed tremendous spirit and commitment throughout the game and were worthy of the draw in the end against a Wexford team which was reduced to 13 men late on after receiving two second half red cards.

Offaly might even feel disappointed that they didn't win the game with the opposition down to 13 players but considering they were given little or no chance of gaining any points in this campaign a draw away to a team which had drawn away to Kilkenny the previous week is nothing to be sneezed at.

Having led throughout the first half and never being behind before the 61st minute, it was beginning to look like a case of the same old story when they then went three points down with six minutes left. But they showed tremendous courage and fighting abilities to get back in the game, initially through Brian Duignan's goal which levelled matters with five minutes left. Offaly then went two clear again but unfortunately weren't able to hold on as Wexford hit back to level. Indeed Wexford had a clear chance to win the game in the final seconds but sub Simon Donohoe sent hit effort wide and Offaly held on for the draw.

It was the least Offaly deserved from the contest. They took the game to Wexford from the very start and were 0-6 to 0-2 up after just 10 minutes. They stretched the lead to 0-9 to 0-4 by the 26th minute but Wexford finished the half strongly and cut the interval deficit to just two points, 0-11 to 0-9.

Wexford were level five minutes into the second half with the crowd getting behind them but Offaly weren't giving up and went back in front twice more, leading 0-15 to 0-13 with 20 minutes left. Wexford then scored five in a row and it didn't look good for Offaly but they levelled with a goal with five minutes left before taking the lead again but Wexford hit back to record their second draw of the campaign.

The first half was probably as good a first half as Offaly played at the top level of hurling in some time. They hassled and harried their opponents and probably deserved to be more than two points ahead at half time. Just as against Waterford the previous weekend, they had too many wides in that half, hitting eight to just three for Wexford.

But it was the pressure they were putting on Wexford, particularly as they tried to come out of defence that was impressive. They had given up a lot of ground to Waterford in the first game but this time, they pushed up and Wexford were under pressure trying to clear and good work by Offaly men in winning back the ball led to a number of scores.

They continued in that vein in the second half, though oddly when they went a man up, seemed to find it more difficult to find a man in space further up the field. Again missed chances cost them as they finished with 13 wides, a number of them from long range frees. They are misses that can be rectified as they can prove costly and possibly cost Offaly a famous win in this game.

They had a lot of stars in this game. Ciaran Burke did very well at full back, Ben Conneely did a great job marshalling Lee Chin and Cillian Kiely was immense at centre back. David King did a tremendous amount of valuable work around the middle of the field while in attack Killian Sampson was very impressive. Charlie Mitchell did a lot of very good work and Brian Duignan got the all important goal and put in a big shift throughout.

Offaly began well and Brian Duignan put them in front from a '65' after two minutes before Ben Conneely scored a great point from the left sideline about 45m out. Wexford got their first score when Cian Byrne pointed but Offaly responded quickly with Adam Screeney catching a long ball from Killian Sampson and pointing. Cillian Kiely burst upfield to add another point and from the puck out Conor Foley was dispossessed when coming upfield with the ball and Cillian Kiely gathered and added another point in the eighth minute.

Tomas Kinsella pulled one back for Wexford but Brian Duignan responded with a free but missed a further chance of adding to that. Lee Chin (free) and Richie Lawlor cut the gap to two after 21 minutes but Offaly hit back impressively with the next three scores from Killian Sampson, Brian Duignan and Charlie Mitchell.

Wexford did have a goal chance but Cian Byrne pulled his effort wide before Lee Chin (free) and Cian Byrne cut the gap to three. Brian Duignan pointed two further frees for Offaly with Lee Chin doing likewise for Wexford and Cian Molloy adding another point to leave two in it at half time, Offaly ahead by 0-11 to 0-9.

Seconds after the restart Lee Chin pointed for Wexford but Brian Duignan replied with a '65'. Charlie McGuckin and Corey Byrne Dunbar then brought Wexford level five minutes into the half. Cathal King edged Offaly back in front but Lee Chin levelled from a free.

Wexford then lost Jack O'Connor to a red card less than two minutes after coming in and Dan Bourke put Offaly back in front and David King doubled the lead. Wexford rallied again and hit the next five points through James Byrne, Lee Chin (two frees), Mark Fanning (free) and Seamus Casey to lead by three with six minutes left.

It looked ominous for Offaly but with five minutes left they netted the only goal of the game. Mark Troy sent a puck out to Jason Sampson, who had room to make ground and he lofted a high ball ito the square, where it was won by Charlie Mitchell who offloaded to Brian Duignan and he fired to the net from an angle.

Wexford were then reduced to 13 men with two minutes left when Charlie McGuckin received a red card. Brian Duignan put Offaly back in front from a free and David King stretched that to two with four minutes left of injury time.

Wexford didn't give up and Lee Chin pointed a free and Seamus Casey levelled before Simon Donohoe had a great chance to win it but sent his effort badly wide.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Niall Murphy, Conor Foley, Shane Reck; Charlie McGuckin, Damien Reck, Cian Molloy; Carey Byrne Dunbar, Conor Hearne; Tomas Kinsella, Lee Chin, Kevin Foley; Cian Byrne, Richie Lawlor, Seamus Casey. Subs. Jack O'Connor (for Tomas Kinsella, 44 mins), James Byrne (for Cian Byrne, 56 mins), Cathal Dunbar (for Corey Byrne Dunbar, 64 mins), Simon Donohoe (for Conor Hearne, 68 mins), Joe O'Connor (for Cian Molloy, 70 mins).

OFFALY: Mark Troy; Cathal King, Ciaran Burke, Sam Bourke; Jason Sampson, Cillian Kiely, Ben Conneely; Jack Clancy, David King; Killian Sampson, Eimhin Kelly, David Nally; Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan, Adam Screeney. Subs. Dan Bourke (for Jack Clancy, 51 mins), Morgan Watkins (for Adam Screeney, 57 mins), Dan Ravenhill (for Eimhin Kelly, 64 mins).

REFEREE: Sean Stack (Dublin)

MAN OF THE MATCH

A lot of Offaly players put their hands up with Killian Sampson and Brian Duignan both having terrific games but I've gone for centre back Cillian Kiely. He was in dominant form in his sector, came forward to score two fine points and his battling qualities epitomised the best of Offaly's performance. Even when he picked up a second half injury and had to go off as a blood sub, he was determined to get back on to see out the game for Offaly.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Brian Duignan's goal got Offaly back into the match when it seemed to be slipping away from them. Wexford had hit five points in a row to go three ahead and looked to have the momentum but Duignan's goal levelled matters and gave Offaly renewed impetus and they gained their first point of the campaign.

REFEREE WATCH

The home crowd got on Sean Stack's back on occasions but it was more out of the crowd's frustrations than anything else. He liaised well with his linesmen and got the big calls right. Both red cards were correct decisions and he got most other decisions right as well. He let it flow and there were some hard hits but he did a decent job.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly travel to play Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in two weeks on February 25th while Wexford face Clare on the same day.

VENUE WATCH

On a cool damp evening, there was a big home crowd present as usual in Wexford Park and a few hardy Offaly supporters in the official attendance of 3,664. There were plenty of stewards on duty inside and outside the ground to look after parking and keep things running smoothly. The pitch wasn't in bad nick for the time of year and held up fairly well and there was a good atmosphere under the lights.

STATISTICS

Wides; Wexford 7 (3 in first half) Offaly 13 (8 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Wexford 2 (Charlie McGuckin, Kevin Foley) Offaly 2 (David King, Ben Conneely)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: Wexford 2 (Jack O'Connor, Charlie McGuckin) Offaly 0

THE SCORERS

Wexford; Lee Chin (0-9, 0-8 frees), Cian Byrne, Seamus Casey (0-2 each), Tomas Kinsella, Richie Lawlor, Cian Molloy, Charlie McGuckin, Corey Byrne Dunbar, James Byrne, Mark Fanning (free) (0-1 each).

Offaly; Brian Duignan (1-7, 0-4 frees, 0-2 '65s'), Cillian Kiely, David King (0-2 each), Ben Conneely, Adam Screeney, Killian Sampson, Charlie Mitchell, Cathal King, Dan Bourke (0-1 each).