Offaly minor hurlers ease to facile victory over Wicklow

OFFALY minors hurlers made in three wins from three in the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship with a facile win over a disappointing Wicklow team at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Saturday.

It maintains their 100% record and they have now secured a preliminary quarter final place ahead of the final group game away to Westmeath on Saturday next.

Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Tier 2 Group 1
OFFALY 5-23 WICKLOW 0-7

Offaly and Westmeath have each won their three games to date and have secured their places in the knockout stages and next week's game in Killucan will decide who finishes top and second in the group.

Offaly were never stretched against Wicklow on Saturday but they did what they had to do and dispatched the opponents in front of them. They played some good hurling along the way but they know they will face much tougher hurdles in the weeks ahead.

Offaly hit the ground running from the very start and were 0-8 to 0-1 in front after just nine minutes. Wicklow did reduce the lead to five but a goal at the start of the second quarter signalled another scoring burst from Offaly before two goals in two minutes at the end of the half gave them an 18 point lead at half time, 3-14 to 0-5.

That was more or less that and the second half was a more scrappy and stop start affair. Wickow made a treble substitution and Offaly a quadruple substitution before the end of the third quarter and that disrupted the rhythm of the game a bit. Offaly did plough on with some of the substitutes determined to make their mark and they managed to add two further goals in the second half as they progressed to a 31 point victory. Wicklow actually ended the game with 12 players with three late red cards in a three minute spell, two for second yellow card offences, but that wasn't a reflection of the game or the Wicklow performance at all.

Offaly will be happy to have kept on course for the knock out stages. They played some very good hurling in the first half and all six forwards plus a midfielder got on the scoring sheet from play in that opening 30 minutes. Their link play was very good and they showed plenty of sharpness to effectively put the game to bed by the interval. Overall they scored 4-17 from play and the scoring was well spread around.

One thing that might concern management is the 12 wides they shot. They coughed up possession at times as well but they showed great endeavour and worked hard right to the final whistle, even though the outcome was well decided by that stage.

It must be said that Wicklow were very limited and rarely threatened Offaly. Despite having whatever wind was there, they only managed two points in the second half, one of them in the fifth minute of injury time. They were game and kept trying but they were simply outclassed by Offaly on this occasion.

Goalkeeper James Carroll wasn't troubled much but when he was called on in the second half made a terrific save from Tom Brennan. Barry Bennett, Oisin Carroll and Sean Walshe also played very well in defence. Darragh Phelan and Fiachra Carroll held sway in the middle of the field while in attack Odhran Fletcher was the stand out player but he got strong support from Macdara Mitchell, Edward Carty and Jack Dunican.

It was a day to forget for Wicklow but John Lynch, Sean Byrne (Naomh Teagain), Senan Shortall, Rian Rooney and Tom Brennan all kept plugging away until the end.

Offaly were in front after just 26 seconds when Odhran Fletcher fired over the opening point. Luke Cotter levelled for Wicklow as they looked to make a bright opening but Odhran Fletcher quickly restored the Offaly lead. Wicklow looked lively in those opening minutes but Offaly quickly began to take control and Jack Dunican, Odhran Fletcher (2, one free), Macdara Mitchell (2) and Adam Martin all hit points in quick succession to make it 0-8 to 0-1 after nine minutes.

Rian Rooney pointed a Wicklow free from midfield and straight from the puck out Jim O'Brien added another to cut the gap to five as Offaly missed a few chances.

Then after 16 minutes Oisin Carroll's clearance found Edward Carty, he made good ground before offloading to Adam Martin and he shot to the net. Fiachra Carroll, Odhran Fletcher (2, one free), Edward Carty, Jack Dunican and Conor Thornton all added points over the next 10 minutes to stretch the lead to 14 points.

Tom Brennan pulled one back for Wicklow two minutes before the break but Offaly then struck for two goals in two minutes before the interval. First Jack Dunican made a great run from the left before firing home and then Conor Thornton made a good block down, gathered the ball and made ground before passing to Jack Dunican, who in turn handpassed across the goalmouth for Odhran Fletcher to volley home. Senan Shortall did get the last score of the half for Wicklow but Offaly went in leading by 3-14 to 0-5 at half time.

The second half was much slower to take off and the first score came in the fifth minute from an Odhran Fletcher free. He added another from play and Edward Carty also hit the target. Barry Bennett pointed a long range free as both sides made all those substitutions.

It was one of those subs who netted Offaly's fourth goal after 47 minutes when Tom O'Dwyer gathered the ball and burst his way forward before shooting to the net. Wicklow had their own goal chance just after but Tom Brennan's shot was brilliantly turned away by James Carroll. Edward Carty pointed a free before Wicklow got their first point of the half after 21 minutes from Senan Shortall.

Darragh Phelan added another Offaly point before Ruairi Woods saw an effort come off the post but in the follow up Tom O'Dwyer was fouled and a penalty awarded. Se Killoran also picked up a second yellow card and Wickow were down to 14 men. Edward Carty planted the penalty in the top corner for Offaly's fifth goal after 57 minutes.

Two minutes later after an off the ball incident Jack O'Donoghue and Sean Traynor both picked up yellow cards while Wicklow's George Connors was dismissed. Just over a minute later Traynor picked up a second yellow and Wicklow were down to 12 men. Barry Bennett pointed the resulting free and Jack Collins and Bennett added points from play before Sean Craig grabbed a late consolation point for Wicklow.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: James Carroll (Birr); Jason Donoghue (Tullamore), Barry Bennett (Birr), Sean Finlay (Tullamore); Jack O'Donoghue (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Oisin Carroll (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Sean Walshe (Coolderry); Darragh Phelan (Ballyskenach-Killavilla), Fiachra Carroll (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Conor Thornton (Shamrocks), Adam Martin (Tullamore), Macdara Mitchell (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Edward Carty (Birr), Odhran Fletcher (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Jack Dunican (Kilcormac/Killoughey). Sub. Harry O'Sullivan (Carrig & Riverstown) (for Adam Martin, inj. 27 mins), Eamon Maher (Ferbane) (for Fiachra Carroll (42 mins), Jack Collins (Seir Kieran) (for Jack Dunican, 42 mins), Tom O'Dwyer (Birr) (for Macdara Mitchell, 42 min), Ruairi Woods (Belmont) (for Odhran Fletcher, 42 mins).

WICKLOW: Conor O'Sullivan; John Lynch, Sean Traynor, Se Killoran; Ciaran Darcy, Sean Byrne (Naomh Teagan), Sean Byrne (Eachdruim Ui Bhroin); Senan Shortall, Luke Cotter; Rian Rooney, Tom Brennan, Tom Merriman; Jim O'Brien, George Connors, Conor Boland. Subs. Dean Barry (for Ciaran Darcy, half time), Sean Craig (for Tom Merriman, 40 mins), Aodhan Heaney (for Jim O'Brien, 40 mins), Cillian Brady (for Conor Boland, 40 mins), Fiachra Hynes (for Sean Byrne Eachdruim Ui Bhroin, 52 mins).

REFEREE: Patrick Phelan (Laois).

MAN OF THE MATCH

In a lively Offaly attack in the first half Odhran Fletcher was in top form. He was sharp and accurate and his touch was very good. He scored 1-8, 1-5 from play, before Offaly withdrew the bulk of their forward line after 42 minutes. He tormented the Wicklow rearguard in his time on the pitch.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Offaly's third goal was a well worked score. Conor Thornton blocked down Ciaran Darcy's attempted shot around midfield, gathered the ball and raced forward before handpassing to Jack Dunican, who then transferred across the goalmouth to Odhran Fletcher who volleyed the ball first time to the net to give Offaly an unassailable 3-14 to 0-5 half time lead.

REFEREE WATCH

Patrick Phelan wasn't too much of a factor in the game for 57 minutes but then in a three minute spell sent three Wicklow players to the line. Two of them were for second yellows but there was nothing really malicious in any of them and possibly a little bit of leniency could have been allowed considering the state of the contest at that point but he did follow the rules correctly in those instances and did little wrong overall.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly travel to face Westmeath in Killucan next Saturday at 1pm and with both teams already through, the game will decide who finishes first and second in the group.

VENUE WATCH

Despite a lot of rain over the previous couple of days, O'Connor Park was in good condition for this game. There was a small attendance present for the game and everything was in order for the contest.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 12 (8 in first half) Wicklow 8 (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 1 (Jack O'Donoghue) Wicklow 5 (Se Killoran x 2, Senan Shortall, Sean Traynor x 2)

Red Cards: Offaly 0 Wicklow 3 (Se Killoran – 2 yellows, George Connors, Sean Traynor – 2 yellows)

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Odhran Fletcher (1-8, 0-3 frees), Edward Carty (1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Jack Dunican (1-2), Adam Martin (1-1), Tom O'Dwyer (1-0), Barry Bennett (0-3, 0-2 frees), Macdara Mitchell (0-2), Fiachra Carroll, Conor Thornton, Darragh Phelan, Jack Collins (0-1 each).

Wicklow; Senan Shortall (0-2), Luke Cotter, Rian Rooney (free), Jim O'Brien, Tom Brennan, Sean Criag (0-1 each).

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