Cork end Offaly fairytale as brave heroes go down fighting
OFFALY'S dreams of a historic All-Ireland U-20 hurling title may have went up in smoke in a blistering, bubbling Thurles on Sunday but they went down fighting, as a group of fiercely hungry young players allowed a county to dream once again – and showed that big success is possible.
All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final
Cork 2-22
Offaly 3-13
Behind by two points at half time, 1-11 to 1-9, a victory looked very possible for Offaly, especially as they had the wind to come. The favourites, however, had begun to show an edge in phsyicality and power running coming up to half time as they got five of the closing six points. It was enough to set the alarm bells ringing among the more realistic of the huge Offaly crowd there and their anxiety proved to be very justified as Cork powered home in the second half.
1-6 without reply in the eight minutes after the restart handed Cork a 2-17 to 1-9 lead and it really was all over for Offaly. A brilliant Conor Doyle goal ignited hope but in reality, it was a forlorn one at that stage and Cork were assured of victory from a long way out.
Offaly, however, can be extremely proud of the way they performed here and all year. Starting with six of the team pipped by Tipperary in the All-Ireland minor final last year, they have thrilled and excited hurling supporters much further afield than Offaly. Their pace, skill, exuberance and obvious joy in hurling struck a bond with supporters and one defeat does not change that.
There was always a strong possibility that this final would be a bridge too far for Offaly, that Cork would have too much power and strength, and that it was a year too early for a young team. And this was the way it went in the second half but not before Offaly had asked serious questions of them.
It all ended in an anti-climax and this game really needed Offaly in contention late on. Instead, their support was quietened as acceptance began to dawn that it would not be their day. Cork supporters were well outnumbered and even with victory in sight, they didn't get in anyway excited. The win would have meant so much more to Offaly but it wasn't to be.
Cork should have had a man sent off in the first half as Shane Kingston delivered a high elbow on Cormac Egan for an 11th minute penalty and this might have changed things but even then, they would probably have been too strong. The failure to show Kingston a red card for a dangerous, reckless elbow was a disgrace, however, and the referee Chris Mooney certainly did not do his job then as he showed a yellow – Egan was replaced at half time and while Offaly would have wanted to get Shane Rigney into the action, it is doubtful if the Tullamore man would have been the first called ashore if he was not hurt by that strike.
Offaly went down fighting and can be so proud of the way they performed all year and here. They must be spared any of the criticism or recriminations that accompanies any side that loses a big game. They don't deserve any of that and they have brought so much pride to their county.
There is no point anyway. Offaly were beaten by a better team and overall, their performance was not good enough. It may have been as good as it possibly could have been but there were things that went wrong, some players didn't play as well as they had been and it just didn't happen for them in the second half.
Ultimately Offaly's attack didn't perform as needed and this is shown by the fact that Cork had eight scorers, double Offaly's four. Only two Offaly players scored points and only three of those came from play. That type of return couldn't win an All-Ireland and Offaly were very heavily reliant on Adam Screeney. The Kilcormac-Killoughey man was magical in the first half, the best player on the field up to half time but as Cork turned the screw coming up to the break and tightened up all over in the second half, he was starved of possession. Offaly didn't have a wide until Brecon Kavanagh hit one a minute into the second half and two overall shows how few shots they managed – part of it was down to Offaly playing a deep, defensive game but part of it was also down to just not being able to get away from a super Cork defence.
Offaly's troubles are also reflected by the fact that their senior county player and team captain, Charlie Mitchell was replaced in the 39th minute as he didn't get into the game and both midfielders, Cathal King and Colin Spain also went early.
Defensively Offaly played with their hearts on their sleeves – Brecon Kavanagh was absolutely brilliant and others tried so hard under severe pressure but the entire Offaly team can hold their heads high and reflect with great pride on their year. The chants they were given by supporters on the final whistle and the backing on the field was no more than they deserved.
There was a rare, magical atmosphere in Thurles before the game and in Semple Stadium at it. Offaly supporters were in the vast majority, creating a crescendo of noise as the team came out onto the field and the lineup was called out.
Years in the doldrum and a ferocious hunger for success erupted among the supporters with an estimated 10,000 Offaly supporters packing the approach roads to Thurles – the full attendance was 29,380 though this included Clare and Galway supporters who left after the minor final.
Every puck of the ball, every score was greeted with wild cheers by Offaly supporters as a tremendous, helter-skelter first half emerged – thankfully the whistles or jeers for Cork frees were reasonably quiet and only confined to a handful of supporters while Cork were almost impeccable in this regard.
Offaly set up defensively in the first half and this resulted in Cork clearing some ball but once again their work rate was exemplary. The big thing for Offaly in the first half was they turned up and they performed – no matter what happened, they could walk with their heads held high and a 1-11 to 1-9 half time deficit after playing against a slight wind left them very much in it.
Adam Screeney was on fire early on, drawing a quick foul from Shane Kingston that should have resulted in a card – he got a yellow later on for fouling Cormac Egan for the penalty and Kingston really shouldn't have finished the game. Screeney's movement and skill was breathtaking and he was pivotal as Offaly led by 0-4 to 0-1 after six minutes.
They had settled quickly after nervous early mistakes from Charlie Mitchell and Ter Guinan and were soon asking serious questions of Cork. The Munster side had an edge in physicality and athleticism and they took the lead with a Ben Cunningham free and a Diarmuid Healy goal in the eight minute after Offaly failed to clear their lines.
Jack Leahy added a point but Offaly regained the lead in the 11th minute when Kingston upended the raiding Cormac Egan and Dan Ravenhill blasted the penalty to the net. It was nip and tuck from here to the interval. Cork were level at 1-6 each after 20 minutes but two Screeney frees put Offaly two clear by the 23rd minute.
Cork did get on top late on, getting four points on the trot to lead by two as it went into injury time. Screeney got a free for Offaly but Tadgh O'Connell's point gave Cork that two point interval lead.
Offaly were able to dream at the break but within minutes of the restart, it was clear that there would be no fairytale. Michael Mullins raced through for a goal after just 18 seconds and they were 2-17 to 1-9 ahad before Adam Screeney got Offaly's first point from a 39th minute free. Conor Doyle got in for an excellent 40th minute goal but the deficit was still seven points and that was really too big.
Diarmuid Healy and Screeney (free) exchanged points and a run of three in a row for Cork deflated the Offaly supporters. They got the last 1-1 with Shane Rigney's goal in the fourth minute of injury time but by that stage, Cork captain Micheal Mullins was rehearsing his victory speech.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ben Cunningham (Cork): It may have taken Ben Cunningham a while to get into the game but once he did, he ran the show. Charging through regularly with the ball, he was immense with four of his nine points coming from play.
THE SCORERS
Cork: Ben Cunningham 0-9 (5f), William Buckley and Jack Leahy 0-4 each, Diarmuid Healy and Michael Mullins 1-1 each, Tadgh O'Connell, David Cremin and Adam O'Sullivan 0-1 each.
Offaly: Adam Screeney 0-9 (7f), Dan Ravenhill 1-4 (goal from a penalty, 1 '65' and 2f), Conor Doyle and Shane Rigney 1-0 each.
THE TEAMS
OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Luke Watkins (Shinrone), Sam Bourke (Durrow), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown); Dan Bourke (Durrow), Cormac Egan (Tullamore), Conor Doyle (Clara); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's) for Egan (HT), Barry Egan (Clara) for Mitchell (39m), Ruari Kelly (Lusmagh) for Taaffe (39m), Joe Hoctor (Carrig-Riverstown) for King (45m), Ailbe Watkins (Birr) for Spain (52m),
CORK: Brion Sanderson; Mark Howell, Shane Kingston, Darragh O'Sullivan; James Dwyer, Ben O'Connor, Eoin Downey; Tadgh O'Connell,Michael Mullins; William Buckley, Ben Cunningham, Diarmuid Healy; Ross O'Sullivan, David Cremin, Jack Leahy. Subs – Eoin O'Leary for O'Sullivan (45m), Adam O'Sullivan for Cremin (47m), Colin Walsh for Leahy (55m), Ciaran Doolin for Dwyer (57m), Brian Keating for O'Connell (57m),
Referee – Chris Mooney (Dublin).
REFEREE WATCH
Cork's rough tactics placed considerable pressure on Chris Mooney and he was slow to punish them – the winners targeted Adam Screeney early on and they were certainly fortunate to see half time with fourteen on the field. Full back Shane Kingston got one yellow but it could have been two yellows and definitely should have had a red which is a considerble black mark against the referee – the high elbow on Egan was a red card every day of the week while an early foul on Screeney would generally result in a yellow but he may have escaped as it was so soon in the game. Apart from that the Dublin man was efficient and in control and there was no real issue with his general refereeing but the memory of Kingston's elbow on Egan will remain with Offaly fans.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Micheal Mullins goal just moments into the second half was pivotal. It ignited Cork and was a dreadful blow to Offaly, coming so near the restart.
VENUE WATCH
There was a magical atmosphere on Sunday with thousands of Offaly cars making their way to Semple Stadium. It was a great occasion with huge anticipation in the build up. The great sunshine added to the mood and there was a terrific atmosphere in Thurles. The Tipperary County Board hosted the fixture with tremendous professionalism. They had an abundance of courteous, friendly, helpful stewards and it was an ideal venue for this game. A special word of praise to the stewards for their vigilance in trying to ensure Clare supporters did not come out on the field after their win over Galway in the minor hurling final and cause any disruption to the U-20 final. A gate was left open on the terrace which allowed some out but stewards reacted quickly to shut that while hundreds did ingnore them, though they were cleared in good time. The game was delayed by ten minutes but with traffic mayhem on the road from Birr to Thurles, this was not a surprise.
WHAT'S NEXT
That concludes the season for both sides.
STATISTICS
Wides: Offaly – 2 (0 in first half); Cork – 8 (4 in first half).
Yellow cards: Offaly – 1 (James Mahon); Cork – 4 (Shane Kingston, Darragh O'Sullivan, Ben O'Connor and Eoin Downey).
Red cards: 0.