FAITH’S RESTORED
Inspired Offaly shock the Dubs
Leinster U20FC Final Offaly 0-15 Dublin
3-3 MORGAN TYNAN and Jack Bryant kicked Offaly to an historic 0-15 to 3-3 victory over Dublin in the U20 Leinster Football Final last night.
It took Offaly just two minutes to get the score board up and running with a composed Tynan free.
Dublin were dealt an early blow with Luke Murphy–guinane’s evening cut short by injury with just two minutes played and it took a while for Dublin to find their feet in a high octane game.
Cathal Flynn and Fionn Murray both split the posts with fine scores before we were treated to the first goal of the game – coming the way of Dublin.
The rampaging Lorcan Odell timed his run into the box perfectly as Luke Ward laid off the pass. Within seconds Odell had the ball in the back of the net with an unstoppable effort from close range. Dublin in front by three at the first water break despite Offaly enjoying most of the possession.
It could have been more but for two bad Dublin wides from Mark Lavin and Fionn Murray leaving Offaly in touch.
The response from Offaly was hugely impressive as they rattled off the next four scores – all from play. Tynan, Egan, Bryant and Kelleghan all slotting for the Faithful.
On the stroke of half time Dublin had the umpire reaching for the green flag once more just as Offaly were starting to cruise leaving one point between the sides at the break.
The hugely impressive
Bryant had the Offaly fans on the edge of their seats early in the second half with two huge points inside the first three minutes of the second half to edge his side in front once more.
Dublin’s third goal came 10 minutes into the second half and it was Mark Lavin with the effort this time to edge the Boys in Blue back in front.
It was all too easy as he strolled past Morgan Tynan and Ben Milist before blasting an unstoppable effort past Sean O’toole in the Offaly goal.
Substitute Keith O’neill slotted a close range free just before the final water break to leave the sides level once again heading into the final 15 minutes.
A brace of scores from the evergreen Bryant and the composed Morgan Tynan put Offaly two to the good with just eight minutes left before a roving run from Cormac Kelly concluded with a lovely tap over the bar to put three between the sides with Offaly growing in confidence.
Dublin, to their credit, didn’t throw in the towel and tried everything in the final minutes from dropped balls into the box, to runs at goal – but Offaly showed resilience and character to see the game out and record a historic victory. SCORERS – Dublin: Fionn Murray (1-1), Lorcan O’dell (1-1), Mark Lavin (1-0), Adam Fearon (0-1).
Offaly: Jack Bryant (0-6, 3f), Morgan Tynan (0-4, 1 45, 2f), Cormac Egan (0-2), Cathal Flynn (0-1), Aaron Kellaghan (0-1), Keith O’neill (0-1, 1f).