Fulfil Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship Phase 2 Round 3

DUBLIN 4-23

OFFALY 0-15

DUBLIN secured their place in the semi-finals of the Leinster under 20 hurling championship when they had a comprehensive 20 point victory over Offaly in the final group game at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Wednesday evening.

Both sides were already through to the knock out stages before throw in in what was a meeting of the top two sides in the group and the outcome would determine who would top the group and claim the semi-final place with the loser going into the quarter finals on May Bank Holiday Monday.

On the night there was no questioning who was the better side as Dublin dominated almost from the throw in. They were sharper than Offaly all over the field and they had far more scoring options in attack. They constantly ran through the Offaly defence and in reality could have won by an even bigger margin.

Offaly showed a lot of heart but they weren't as slick as Dublin and their attack never really looked like threatening to score a goal. They fought on to the end but they will now have to pick themselves up quickly before facing into that quarter final on Monday week.

Despite playing into the wind, Dublin took an early grip on proceedings and an eighth minute goal helped them to a 1-3 to 0-2 lead. They had stretched the lead to seven points by the 19^th minute but Offaly enjoyed their best spell over the next five minutes as they got the gap down to four points and seemed to be back in the game. But Dublin hit 1-2 without reply between that and half time and went in leading 2-12 to 0-9 and that effectively was that.

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The game went through the motions to a certain extent in the second half as Dublin slowly edged further ahead. But for some brilliant saves by Matt Watkins and the woodwork they would have streaked even further ahead but they did finish on the up and two goals from sub Senan Bolger in the last five minutes which helped them to that 20 point winning margin.

Dublin dominated around the middle third in the first half and seemed to be able to find space much easier than Offaly. They were particularly productive off their own puck outs when Sean O'Neill seemed to be able to find a man free with ease and too often they made great progress upfield almost unchallenged before setting up another attack.

Dublin also had players who were quick and lively and when they ran at Offaly the defence struggled to cope with them. Their forwards linked up very well together and they seemed to be able to open up the Offaly backline far too easily.

After wins over Laois and Meath, Offaly would have come into this game with a degree of confidence but they faced a team at a higher level on this occasion. They fought hard but their forwards found it hard to make headway against a strong Dublin defence. Only four Offaly players managed to get their names on the scoresheet, only two of them forwards, while 11 different players got on the mark for Dublin.

Conor Quinn, Cathal O'Flynn and Tommy Cullen all impressed in the Dublin defence, Micheal Tierney had a good hour in the middle of the field, while Aron Gargan, James Norris and Darragh Kilduff were best in a very good forward line.

Matt Watkins had an excellent game in the Offaly goals and certainly kept the score down. Harry Sweeney battled hard at full back with Andrew Hogan and James O'Sullivan also working hard in defence. Sean Carey and Gearoid Maher had good moments in the middle of the field while Odhran Fletcher and Darragh Scully were most productive in attack.

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Although playing against the wind it was Dublin who made the better start with Callum Graham and Micheal Tierney pointing inisde the first five minutes. Odhran Fletcher replied with an Offaly free but Aron Gargan quickly hit the mark again for Dublin. Sean Carey had a low shot saved before James O'Sullivan collected a sideline cut from Odhran Fletcher and pointed.

Dublin struck for the first goal after eight minutes. Tommy Cullen linked up with Aron Gargan and when the return pass came, Cullen pulled low to the net from close range. Odhran Fletcher pointed an Offaly '65' but Cathal O'Flynn, Callum Graham and Darragh Kilduff all pointed in quick succession for Dublin to push them six clear.

Darragh Scully picked off an Offaly point before Daniel O'Kelly and Odhran Fletcher exchanged points from frees. James Norris and Aron Gargan then put Dublin seven up but Offaly enjoyed their most fruitful spell of the half after that. Gearoid Maher and Odhran Fletcher (free) both pointed and after Aron Gargan hit the target for Dublin, Odhran Fletcher scored two fine points from play to cut the gap to four points seven minutes before the break.

But Dublin finished the half on the up. James Norris caught a puck out and sent the ball over the bar and when a ball from Joe Sheppard wasn't held, it fell into the grasp of Darragh Kilduff and he fired to the net. The same player added another point and Dublin were nine clear at the break, 2-12 to 0-9.

Dublin almost had another goal inside the first minute of the second half but Matt Watkins saved well from Callum Graham at the expense of a '65' which Daniel O'Kelly pointed. Callum Graham added another point before Odhran Fletcher pointed a free. Tommy Cullen hit a long range effort for Dublin before Odhran Fletcher found the target for Offaly. Daniel O'Kelly pointed three frees with Gearoid Maher pointing one for Offaly as Dublin led 2-18 to 0-12 11 minutes into the half.

Matt Watkins stood strong to save from Aron Gargan before Odhran Fletcher pointed another free but James Norris and Darragh Kilduff replied for Dublin. Darragh Scully and Micheal Tierney exchanged points before Dublin finished with a flourish.

Callum Graham's shot came back off the crossbar and Senan Bolger was on hand to finish to the net and three minutes later the same player hit the net for a second time. Aron Gargan also hit the crossbar before Luke Hayes and George O'Toole hit further points. Odhran Fletcher had a late free for Offaly but Dublin were fully deserving winners.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

DUBLIN: Sean O'Neill; Luke Mooney, William Wheatley, Conor Quinn; Cathal O'Flynn, Joe Sheppard, Tommy Cullen; Killian Costello, Micheal Tierney; George O'Toole, Daniel O'Kelly, James Norris; Callum Graham, Aron Gargan, Darragh Kilduff. Subs. Fiachra Codd (for Killian Costello, half time), Senan Bolger (for Daniel O'Kelly, 43 mins), Rory Duffy (for Conor Quinn, 43 mins), Luke Hayes (for Luke Mooney, temp sub 51 mins), Darragh Durkin (for Joe Sheppard, 53 mins), Jack Kennedy (for Cathal O'Flynn, 56 mins).

OFFALY: Matt Watkins (Ballyskenach-Killavilla); Sean Og Foley (Doon), Harry Sweeney (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Joey McLoughney (Coolderry); Andrew Hogan (Coolderry), James O'Sullivan (Shinrone), Brian Guinan (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Sean Carey (Seir Kieran), Gearoid Maher (Shinrone); Mark Mulrooney (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Liam O'Riordan (Ballyskenach-Killavilla), Marc Ryan (Coolderry); Odhran Fletcher (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Patrick Lyons (Drumcullen), Darragh Scully (St Rynagh's). Subs. Oisin Carroll (Kilcormac/Killoughey) (for Sean Og Foley, half time), Noel Standish (Kinnitty) (for Marc Ryan, 44 mins), Ajay Cleary (Coolderry) (for Joey McLoughney, 51 mins), Dylan Hollywood (Drumcullen) (for Patrick Lyons, 56 mins).

REFEREE: Matthew Redmond (Kildare).

MAN OF THE MATCH

All the leading contenders were on the Dublin team. Odhran Fletcher played well for Offaly, scoring 10 points with three good points from play, but the Dublin forwards shone. In the end I plucked for Darragh Kilduff, particularly for his first half performance. He was always lively and for a small man was very good in the air. He finished with 1-3 and it could have been more.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The second Dublin goal two minutes before half time was a real killer blow for Offaly. They had fought their way back into the game to reduce the lead to four points and although they would have still to face the wind in the second half they would have had some hope. But Darragh Kilduff's goal and a point from the same player pushed the lead out to nine points at half time and there was no real way back for Offaly after that.

REFEREE WATCH

Matthew Redmond handled the game well. He had no real contentious issues to deal with and let the game run, applying the advantage rule well. Overall he didn't have any impact on the outcome.

WHAT’S NEXT

Dublin as group winners go directly to the Leinster semi-final on May 13th while Offaly will play a quarter final on Bank Holiday Monday May 4^th against the third placed team in the other group.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch was in excellent condition for this contest and a decent sized crowd turned up to watch. All usual there were plenty of stewards on duty both inside and outside the ground to ensure everything ran smoothly.

STATISTICS

Wides; Dublin 12 (6 in first half) Offaly 9 (6 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 0 Dublin 3 (Darragh Kilduff, Aron Gargan, Darragh Durkin)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Dublin; Darragh Kilduff (1-3), Senan Bolger (2-0), Daniel O'Kelly (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65'), Tommy Cullen (1-1), Callum Graham, Aron Gargan, James Norris (0-3 each), Micheal Tierney (0-2), Cathal O'Flynn, Luke Hayes, George O'Toole (0-1 each).

Offaly; Odhran Fletcher (0-10, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '65'), Darragh Scully (0-2), Gearoid Maher (0-2, 0-1 free), James O'Sullivan (0-1).

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