Offaly minors end long wait for hurling silverware
Electric Ireland Leinster MHC Final: Offaly 0-21 Laois 0-13
Kevin Egan
In the end, they made it look simple. A 22-year drought in the Leinster MHC - indeed a 22-year drought in all Leinster hurling championships - was brought to a close last night when Leo O’Connor’s minor hurlers outclassed Laois, proving to be full value for their eight-point win in Portlaoise.
The bulk of the winning margin may have been accumulated in the second half, but it was in the opening 30 minutes when Offaly really established their winning position at MW Hire O’Moore Park. While Laois tried to outfox the away side, Offaly contented themselves with trying to outhurl their longstanding neighbours and rivals.
The O’Moore County looked to try and pick their way to victory by playing two withdrawn forwards and crowding out the backline, whereas Offaly were much more tenacious and driven in their play, relying on their relentless energy and drive.
Defensively, the half-back line was imperious and the full-back line impregnable. Players like Leigh Kavanagh, Dan Ravenhill and man of the match Cillian Martin popped up everywhere in the middle third, churning out tackles and hits like their lives depended on it, and consequently the quality of chances created at the Laois end of the ground was far superior.
The half-time score was 0-9 to 0-7 in Offaly's favour, and both teams were dominated by their freetakers, Adam Screeney and Ben Deegan – but Laois needed to be well in front, having hurled with a strong wind. Instead, they racked up nine first half-wides, and had it all to do.
By the 40th minute, the home side was in trouble. Offaly added the first three points of the second half, and while Dan Ravenhill mixed some wides with his three majestic long range scores, the difference was that Offaly were able to vary their play, and continue to create close range scoring chances into the bargain.
A deft handpass from Adam Screeney set up a good score for Shane Rigney, Donal Shirley joined the attack to pop over a great score from the left wing, and when Ter Guinan’s hard work opened the door for Cathal Robinson to dummy his marker and split the posts from 55 metres, Offaly were in control and realistically just needed to keep out the goals to prevail.
Laois hit a short spell of form in the middle of the half when consecutive scores from Deegan and Cormac Byrne brought them back to within three points, but they were quickly reduced to hopeful deliveries into a fiercely crowded goalmouth, and even when they did create half-chances for goals, Caelum Larkin stepped up for the Offaly men with two brave and vital blocks.
As the game moved into the closing minutes, Adam Screeney won a free which he popped over for his tenth point, and then the away supporters could really relax after Rigney, sprinted out of defence and then fired the ball over the crossbar from midfield to crown the victory.
Scorers for Offaly: A Screeney 0-10 (8f), D Ravenhill 0-3, S Rigney 0-2, T Guinan, C Martin, L Kavanagh, D Shirley, C Doyle and C Robinson 0-1 each. Scorers for Laois: Ben Deegan 0-10 (7f, 1 sideline), J Quinlan, J Breen and C Byrne 0-1 each.
Offaly: Liam Hoare; Caelum Larkin, James Mahon, Rúairí Kelly; Ter Guinan, Brecon Kavanagh, Donal Shirley; Cillian Martin, Niall Furlong; Leigh Kavanagh, Dan Ravenhill, Conor Doyle; Cathal Robinson, Shane Rigney, Adam Screeney. Subs: Paddy Dooley for Guinan (temp.), Shane Connolly for Martin (60 mins), James Liffey for Doyle (60+1)
Laois: Brochan O’Reilly; Bobby Murphy, Ciarán Flynn, Joseph Pearson; Thomas Brennan, Tom Cuddy, Cormac Hogan; Andrew McDonagh, Kevin Byrne; Ben Deegan, Liam Kirby, Jack Breen; Eoghan Cuddy, Jer Quinlan, Cormac Byrne. Subs: Eoghan Murphy for McDonagh (37 mins), Aaron Carroll for Kirby (37), Rory Kelly for E Cuddy (51), Justin Duggan for Breen (59).
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).