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Offaly Host Tony Forristal U14 Hurling Tournament

Tuesday, 29 August 2023 13:23

Galway beat Dublin in the final after beating Offaly in the semi finals.

No Silverware, but still lots of promise and green shoots for the Offaly U14 hurlers at the Tony Forristal finals this afternoon played at the Faithful Fields in Kilcormac. 

There was a change in the competitions structure this year, as the Division One event was split into north and south, but with teams from Galway, Dublin, Limerick and Clare joining Offaly in the Northern event, there was still plenty of hot competition for the team coached by Keith Screeney, Eoin Pilkington and Tony Ryan. 

First up in the quarter finals was a clash with one of two Limerick side's and Offaly started well against the Treaty County.

Moving into a three point to two lead off the back of points from Eddie Carthy, Jack Collins and Daniel Corboy.

With a strong breeze blowing into the faces of the Offaly players in the first half, working the ball into scoring positions was difficult, however a high work rate and a tenacious approach to battling for loose ball meant they were very competitive, even after they started to fall behind to a few long range scores from Limerick. 

Disaster struck before half time when a long range free from Limerick midfielder Cian Hanley, took the slightest of touches of an Offaly hurl as it dropped and thus was deflected past Ronan O'Neill in the Offaly goal just before half time.

O'Neill had been imperious making a couple of excellent saves up until then. 

Limerick also added the first point of the second half to push the lead out to seven points, 1-08 to 0-04.

Three points in a row from Jack Collins, two from frees and one from play set Offaly's comeback rolling however. And with Phillip Larkin, Fiachra Carroll, James Dooley and Ciaran Coughlan all very impressive in defence, Limerick's attack was completely shut down. 

Adam Martin shot a good point from play, a Collins free reduced the gap to two and then Offaly finally edged in front with a few minutes to go when Aodhán Carroll set up a goal chance, which was swept into the net from close range by Eddie Carthy.

Limerick found an equaliser, but Carthy came good again with the winning point in stoppage time to seal a 1-10 to 1-09 victory. This set up a semi final clash with Galway team number one. 

According to officials from the Connacht county, their squads were split 60-40 and certainly number two had a number of impressive hurlers, but there was no doubt that they had a number of their deck and must've been closer to 70-30 based on their evidence here in Kilcormac.

Again Offaly played into the wind in the first half, and Galway completely took control at midfield, firing over three early points and creating several more chances, which they pushed wide of the target.

 Three Liam Mulhaire free meant the game was still not out of sight at half time, with Offaly eight points to three adrift.

However, the extra energy expended by the Faithful county in the first half, relative to Galway's 1-24 to 0-04 walk in the park against Dublin, started to tell a tale. 

Add in a string of missed frees and Offaly left themselves with far too much to do. Tadhg McCarthy, Jack Ackman and Gus Lohan, son of former Clare hurler Frank Lohan all starred as Galway moved 1-14 to 0-04 in front.

Adam Martin struck an exceptional point from out the right wing and Patrick Duffy was rewarded for a very hard working performance with a close range goal but Galway still eased over the line to win by 2-14 to 1-05. 

If anything, Galway had it even easier in the final against the other Dublin side, racking up a 3-09 to 0-06 win that was done and dusted at half time. 

Further proving that while Offaly struggled to compete against the competition winners, they can hold their heads up high after yet another very competent and capable showing at underage level against some of the leading hurling counties in Ireland.

All over here at the Tony Forristal finals, Offaly lose out at the semi final stage and it's Galway who pick up the victory with a 12 point win over Dublin. 

Offaly U14 coach Keith Screeney spoke to Kevin Egan after the tournament:

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