Game of thrills, spills and panache as Offaly reel back the years
Leinster SHC Offaly 3-16 Galway 2-19: IF WE had been asked to fill out visa forms stating the intention of our visit to Croke Park for this Leinster semi-final yesterday, we would have said that we were there to check on the wellbeing of Galway.
In a season with no discernible pattern to it yet, Galway have occasionally seduced us into believing that they could be the next ruling tribe.
And Offaly? Sure we love them like always and would wish them the best but, to be honest, the best we hoped for them yesterday was that it would be painless and would not discourage them.
Instead we got a cracker of a game, full of thrills and talking points and glimpses of the old Offaly panache. A game with twists and subplots and firecrackers. The match that the season needed.
The first half was a steady stream of little surprises. Offaly, who looked so limp in a challenge against Cork last Sunday, seemed even more flaccid as they fell behind to four Galway points on the trot.
There were little danger signs that caused us to nudge each other. Joe Canning caught a ball clean over David Kenny’s head, a foul being the only remedy to stop further damage. Canning bent over the free and eschewed the point, driving at the goal with all his might. It was deflected away but as a statement of intent it was chilling.
At midfield Ger Farragher was as immaculate as we have come to expect and on three minutes he raised a white flag with a sideline cut. The ball was by consensus about two yards wide. We nudged each other again. Galway looked hungry and Galway looked lucky.
Farragher’s “point” which both managers conceded was not a point raises a minor point about the wisdom of reopening incidents in a game on the basis of video evidence.
Human error in terms of playing and refereeing is part of the game. Galway got a draw yesterday and their total included a point which clearly wasn’t a point. Human error influenced the outcome in the referee’s case as well as the players. If it had been a winning point would Johnny Ryan have been sent back to his video machine?
Farragher’s point stood but then, like a boxer noting the beginnings of a cut above an opponent’s eye, Offaly found something to work on. Derek Molloy opened the scoring for them with a fine point on the run in a direct move which began with a James Dempsey puc -out.
Then they found paydirt in the 11th minute and once they found it they didn’t stop digging. Joe Brady had the first goal but it took a Brian Carroll point soon after just to get them onto level terms. Joe Bergin slotted another and then in the 18th minute Shane Dooley, the game’s most influential player, added another goal. He following up quickly with a point. Offaly were suddenly six points to the good.
Reasons. Midfield was going well, the Birr pairing of Rory Hanniffy and Dylan Hayden digging out ball which they processed quickly into the full forward line which contained the right mixture of speed, size and intelligence.
Galway got up from the canvas in the usual manner. Two quick points from Joe Canning. It looked like business as usual until Joe Bergin took a long ball from Paul Cleary and turned it to the net. Offaly took a five-point lead to the break with them. Galway took a headache.
They second half looked to be a systematic draining of romance. Show over. Move along. Galway’s scores came quickly now. Niall Healy on as a sub scored straight away. They gunned them over in a sequence which included a spurt of 2-1 in the space of two minutes. Joe Canning profiting from Cyril Donnellan’s hard work for the first goal. Farragher batting home for the second. By the 43rd minute Galway were five points clear.
And in the 46 minute the rebellion ended, it seemed, crushed not by Galway but by a harsh refereeing decision. Daniel Currams went in a little high on David Burke, a challenge not out of context in a game where a lot was being let go and the steps rule seemed at times to have been abandoned. Surprisingly the offence drew a straight red. The Offaly line was incandescent. So were the Offaly players. Ollie Canning moved into position to sweep at the back. In their fury, Offaly scarcely noticed. Three points followed almost straight away from Dooley, Hayden and Joe Bergin and the intensity of Offaly tackling was ratcheted up forcing Galway into turnovers.
They refused to lie down when Canning put over a beautiful and surely demoralising sideline cut or when Damien Hayes hit one of those long-range points which looked like a devastating concluding argument. The game flowed onto to full-time and injury -time. Dooley had a point to leave the sides separated by one. Then a free. Out on the right sideline 70 metres for goal. The stadium held it’s breath. Dooley rattled the ball over with typical aplomb.
Galway will be grateful. Their defence is advancing in years and yesterday it was taken three times for goals and five times more with decent goal chances. It is better to know these things in June.
The replay has been fixed for Portlaoise next Saturday (7pm).
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Og Regan (0-1), D Collins; G Farragher (1-5, three frees, one 65), D Burke (0-2); D Hayes (0-2), C Donnellan, A Callanan (0-1); A Harte, J Canning (1-6, one free, two sidelines), I Tannian (0-1). Subs: J Lee for Barry (30 mins), N Healy (0-1) for Harte (ht) K Hynes for Donnellan (51)J Gantley for Hynes (67).
OFFALY: J Dempsey; D Franks D Kenny, S Egan: J Rigney. P Cleary, D Morkan; R Hanniffy (0-1), D Hayden (0-2); B Carroll (0-2), J Brady (1-1), D Molloy (0-1); B Murphy, J Bergin (1-2), S Dooley (1-7, seven frees). Subs: D Currams for D Molloy (ht); K Brady for Murphy (44 mins); G Healion for J Brady (67 mins); O Kealey for Carroll (68).
Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 53112.html
Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
Dooley watches Offaly renew itself
HOW MANY great days did Joe Dooley see in this old place? Did he ever dream he would see Offaly hurling resurrect itself in the way it did yesterday, with his son hitting a 70-yard free three minutes into injury time to get a richly deserved draw?
It was a day when Offaly could count themselves singularly unlucky. They received a harsh red card and conceded a point which wasn’t, by consensus, a point.
“The ‘point?’ ” says Joe grinning. “The sideline cut? That was the one that went wide by about two yards? I suppose we got no 50-50 decisions today at all. Maybe the next day we might. The referee only has a split second to make up his mind. I thought the sending off (of Daniel Currams) was a very harsh decision. We can all look at it later and see that he got it wrong but I suppose he only has that split second. That’s the way it goes.”
Nobody wanted to criticise Johnny Ryan, yesterday’s referee, so they tiptoed carefully through the issues. What is done is done.
“We had to work a bit harder for our frees than Galway. Maybe the Galway-Kilkenny ideal Leinster final was what was wanted out there.
“Anyway, we have to do our own thing anyway. You have to overcome those things on the day and hurl away. Kilkenny don’t complain if they don’t get frees. We have to be the same.”
And the comeback? Offaly haven’t shown fight like this and self-belief like this for a long time. It was a giant step back into the big time. “We were playing against the breeze when we came back. The lads kept plugging away. Our backs were under severe pressure and we were a man down up front. Shows we are as good as anybody out there when we get going.
“In fairness, Shane is hitting the frees very, very well. If you wanted anybody standing over it he would be the one you would want to see. He is hurling well and so are a lot of the lads. It is an 18-man effort and everybody gave it their all today.
“Galway looked like they would walk away with it but the sending off coincided with their run. We kept plugging and battling. Gives us great heart for the next day. A negative way of looking at it would be that the chance is gone. For us we have another game in the Leinster championship and we will benefit from that.”
“We have John McIntyre,” said the Croke Park man suddenly. All microphones switched off quickly.
“That puts me in my place,” smiled Joe Dooley and vanished in a cloud of mock hurt. John McIntyre came in. We love Joe but McIntyre speaks in clear, concise paragraphs which aren’t cemented together with nonsense. He is easy copy and good copy.
“I believe the sending off had a negative impact on Galway. David Burke had just sent over a great point from play. It gave Offaly a cause. They fought like terriers from there to the finish. Maybe we got complacent on the field. Thought we had the match won.
“I thought it was a harsh call but I won’t be critical of Johnny Ryan. but I think on balance we got more of the breaks from the man in the middle than Offaly did.
“We are lucky maybe in some respects to have gotten a draw out of it. Any recriminations, post mortems or inquests in relation to Galway will be done in the sanctuary of the dressingroom.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 53033.html
HOW MANY great days did Joe Dooley see in this old place? Did he ever dream he would see Offaly hurling resurrect itself in the way it did yesterday, with his son hitting a 70-yard free three minutes into injury time to get a richly deserved draw?
It was a day when Offaly could count themselves singularly unlucky. They received a harsh red card and conceded a point which wasn’t, by consensus, a point.
“The ‘point?’ ” says Joe grinning. “The sideline cut? That was the one that went wide by about two yards? I suppose we got no 50-50 decisions today at all. Maybe the next day we might. The referee only has a split second to make up his mind. I thought the sending off (of Daniel Currams) was a very harsh decision. We can all look at it later and see that he got it wrong but I suppose he only has that split second. That’s the way it goes.”
Nobody wanted to criticise Johnny Ryan, yesterday’s referee, so they tiptoed carefully through the issues. What is done is done.
“We had to work a bit harder for our frees than Galway. Maybe the Galway-Kilkenny ideal Leinster final was what was wanted out there.
“Anyway, we have to do our own thing anyway. You have to overcome those things on the day and hurl away. Kilkenny don’t complain if they don’t get frees. We have to be the same.”
And the comeback? Offaly haven’t shown fight like this and self-belief like this for a long time. It was a giant step back into the big time. “We were playing against the breeze when we came back. The lads kept plugging away. Our backs were under severe pressure and we were a man down up front. Shows we are as good as anybody out there when we get going.
“In fairness, Shane is hitting the frees very, very well. If you wanted anybody standing over it he would be the one you would want to see. He is hurling well and so are a lot of the lads. It is an 18-man effort and everybody gave it their all today.
“Galway looked like they would walk away with it but the sending off coincided with their run. We kept plugging and battling. Gives us great heart for the next day. A negative way of looking at it would be that the chance is gone. For us we have another game in the Leinster championship and we will benefit from that.”
“We have John McIntyre,” said the Croke Park man suddenly. All microphones switched off quickly.
“That puts me in my place,” smiled Joe Dooley and vanished in a cloud of mock hurt. John McIntyre came in. We love Joe but McIntyre speaks in clear, concise paragraphs which aren’t cemented together with nonsense. He is easy copy and good copy.
“I believe the sending off had a negative impact on Galway. David Burke had just sent over a great point from play. It gave Offaly a cause. They fought like terriers from there to the finish. Maybe we got complacent on the field. Thought we had the match won.
“I thought it was a harsh call but I won’t be critical of Johnny Ryan. but I think on balance we got more of the breaks from the man in the middle than Offaly did.
“We are lucky maybe in some respects to have gotten a draw out of it. Any recriminations, post mortems or inquests in relation to Galway will be done in the sanctuary of the dressingroom.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 53033.html
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
Cool Dooley rescues Faithful
By Colm Keys
Monday June 21 2010
Shane Dooley has his critics in Offaly but never again can his nerve be questioned.
As his father and manager Joe watched on the sideline, aghast and perplexed at some of the refereeing decisions that had conspired to leave Offaly trailing by a point in injury-time, young Shane calmly stepped up to a free about 68 metres out on the Cusack Stand side of Croke Park knowing that failure to execute it accurately would result in yet another moral victory for his county, one they wouldn't necessarily want.
The 23-year-old has been down this road before, three weeks ago to be precise in Parnell Park when he landed a similar free that carried the burden of abject failure to Antrim with it if he missed. He converted then for extra-time and stood up to the mark once more yesterday to carve out a result that only the bravest of brave Offaly devotees could have anticipated.
Galway will rue their failure to keep possession in the build-up to that Dooley free for a foul on David Franks. Damien Hayes spilled the ball as they broke from defence, not something expected from such an experienced player.
But it was that sort of day for Galway. Too many of their best and most seasoned performers just didn't perform.
Had Dooley not converted that late free to force next weekend's replay, the Tipperary referee Johnny Ryan might not have been afforded such a gentle exit from the field.
Ryan courted controversy with his 43rd-minute dismissal of Offaly substitute Daniel Currams for a head-high challenge on Galway midfielder Damien Burke. In the context of what happened in the Galway/Wexford quarter-final it was consistent, but given some of the other head-high challenges Ryan did not produce cards for (David Kenny on Joe Canning in the first few minutes?), it looked harsh.
When John McIntyre openly admits that his Galway team got most of the breaks from the officials (Ger Farragher's early sideline was clearly wide) Offaly's right to grievance is punctuated. Dooley senior suggested afterwards, tongue in cheek, that his team may have been spoiling the party set out for Kilkenny and Galway in a few weeks' time and that's why decisions didn't necessarily go their way.
Their spirit and dominance in many of the aerial duels, particularly their half-forward line, really did throw a spanner in the works and had Galway recoiling to the drawing-board.
In defence Kenny kept a tight rein on Canning and Derek Morkan was revelation on one of the wings.
Forensic
But before the forensic team moves in on the league champions, the quality and excitement of this Leinster semi-final should be enjoyed, especially in the wake of Kilkenny's rout of Dublin.
Galway's impact on the Leinster championship has been quite dramatic, serving up the two best games in many, many years. So much for the opposition to their crusade east then.
The rising tide they have created is lifting all boats, a fact Joe Dooley among others will surely acknowledge.
Could Offaly have won with a full complement of players? Probably not.
It took the departure of Currams to stem the flow as Galway, five points down at half-time (3-7 to 0-11) had moved four points clear (2-15 to 3-8) in 11 whirlwind minutes.
Had it continued that way they would have been out of sight but the red card changed the parameters and got the hair standing on Offaly again.
They reeled off the next three points to reduce the gap to one and never again let the gap grow any further than two. Dooley brought them to within a
point as injury-time approached before applying the coup de grace.
For Galway the concerns begin with their defence which suffered difficulty in a majority of positions.
Derek Molloy, Dooley, Joe Bergin and Joe Brady all punched holes in a rearguard that featured five of the six defenders that lined out in the All-Ireland final against Cork five years ago.
Ollie Canning was turned badly by Dooley for two of the goals, first for Joe Brady's strike as he met a rebound on 11 minutes and then for Dooley's own goal eight minutes later as he was left flat-footed by the Tullamore man's swivel back on to his right side.
Beside Canning, Shane Kavanagh was also troubled by the considerable presence of Bergin, who deftly knocked in a third goal on 26 minutes as he latched on to Paul Cleary's booming delivery behind the cover.
With Molloy, Rory Hannify and Brady dominating, Galway rushed John Lee off the bench and by the break they had reasserted some control having led by 0-5 to 0-1 before the goal rush.
Niall Healy also came on and fired over a quick point on the restart and Offaly, now playing into a strong breeze, were instantly feeling the pinch.
Canning, scorer of two effortless second-half sidelines, pounced for Galway's first goal after Cyril Donnellan's path was blocked on 42 minutes and brought parity (1-14 to 3-8) and within a minute Farragher followed up the rebound from Aongus Callanan's strike to put them ahead.
With the impressive midfielder David Burke adding a point, Galway fastened their belts for what looked like a free wheel home before. But there was a sting in the tail for them as the free wheel became a white knuckle ride.
Scorers -- Offaly: S Dooley 1-7 (0-6f), J Bergin 1-2, J Brady 1-1, D Hayden, B Carroll 0-2 each, R Hannify, D Molloy 0-1 each.
Galway: G Farragher (0-2f, 0-1 '65', 0-1 sl), J Canning (0-2 sl, 0-1f), 1-5 each, D Hayes, I Tannian, D Burke 0-2 each, T Og Regan, A Callanan, N Healy 0-1 each.
Offaly -- J Dempsey 7; D Franks 7, D Kenny 7, J Rigney 6; S Egan 7, P Cleary 7, D Morkhan 8; B Murphy 6, D Hayden 7; D Molloy 7, J Brady 7, R Hannify 7; S Dooley 8, J Bergin 8, D Molloy 7. Subs: D Currams 4 for Molloy (h-t), K Brady 6 for Murphy (44), G Healion for Brady (67), O Kelly for Carroll (68).
Galway -- C Callanan 6; D Joyce 6, S Kavanagh 5, O Canning 5; D Barry 5, T Og Regan 8, D Collins 7; G Farragher 7, D Burke 7; D Hayes 6, C Donnellan 5, A Callanan 7; A Harte 5, J Canning 7, I Tannian 7. Subs: J Lee 7 for Barry (30), N Healy 6 for Harte (ht), K Hynes 4 for Donnellan (51), J Gantley for Hynes (67).
Ref -- J Ryan (Tipperary)
- Colm Keys
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28590.html
By Colm Keys
Monday June 21 2010
Shane Dooley has his critics in Offaly but never again can his nerve be questioned.
As his father and manager Joe watched on the sideline, aghast and perplexed at some of the refereeing decisions that had conspired to leave Offaly trailing by a point in injury-time, young Shane calmly stepped up to a free about 68 metres out on the Cusack Stand side of Croke Park knowing that failure to execute it accurately would result in yet another moral victory for his county, one they wouldn't necessarily want.
The 23-year-old has been down this road before, three weeks ago to be precise in Parnell Park when he landed a similar free that carried the burden of abject failure to Antrim with it if he missed. He converted then for extra-time and stood up to the mark once more yesterday to carve out a result that only the bravest of brave Offaly devotees could have anticipated.
Galway will rue their failure to keep possession in the build-up to that Dooley free for a foul on David Franks. Damien Hayes spilled the ball as they broke from defence, not something expected from such an experienced player.
But it was that sort of day for Galway. Too many of their best and most seasoned performers just didn't perform.
Had Dooley not converted that late free to force next weekend's replay, the Tipperary referee Johnny Ryan might not have been afforded such a gentle exit from the field.
Ryan courted controversy with his 43rd-minute dismissal of Offaly substitute Daniel Currams for a head-high challenge on Galway midfielder Damien Burke. In the context of what happened in the Galway/Wexford quarter-final it was consistent, but given some of the other head-high challenges Ryan did not produce cards for (David Kenny on Joe Canning in the first few minutes?), it looked harsh.
When John McIntyre openly admits that his Galway team got most of the breaks from the officials (Ger Farragher's early sideline was clearly wide) Offaly's right to grievance is punctuated. Dooley senior suggested afterwards, tongue in cheek, that his team may have been spoiling the party set out for Kilkenny and Galway in a few weeks' time and that's why decisions didn't necessarily go their way.
Their spirit and dominance in many of the aerial duels, particularly their half-forward line, really did throw a spanner in the works and had Galway recoiling to the drawing-board.
In defence Kenny kept a tight rein on Canning and Derek Morkan was revelation on one of the wings.
Forensic
But before the forensic team moves in on the league champions, the quality and excitement of this Leinster semi-final should be enjoyed, especially in the wake of Kilkenny's rout of Dublin.
Galway's impact on the Leinster championship has been quite dramatic, serving up the two best games in many, many years. So much for the opposition to their crusade east then.
The rising tide they have created is lifting all boats, a fact Joe Dooley among others will surely acknowledge.
Could Offaly have won with a full complement of players? Probably not.
It took the departure of Currams to stem the flow as Galway, five points down at half-time (3-7 to 0-11) had moved four points clear (2-15 to 3-8) in 11 whirlwind minutes.
Had it continued that way they would have been out of sight but the red card changed the parameters and got the hair standing on Offaly again.
They reeled off the next three points to reduce the gap to one and never again let the gap grow any further than two. Dooley brought them to within a
point as injury-time approached before applying the coup de grace.
For Galway the concerns begin with their defence which suffered difficulty in a majority of positions.
Derek Molloy, Dooley, Joe Bergin and Joe Brady all punched holes in a rearguard that featured five of the six defenders that lined out in the All-Ireland final against Cork five years ago.
Ollie Canning was turned badly by Dooley for two of the goals, first for Joe Brady's strike as he met a rebound on 11 minutes and then for Dooley's own goal eight minutes later as he was left flat-footed by the Tullamore man's swivel back on to his right side.
Beside Canning, Shane Kavanagh was also troubled by the considerable presence of Bergin, who deftly knocked in a third goal on 26 minutes as he latched on to Paul Cleary's booming delivery behind the cover.
With Molloy, Rory Hannify and Brady dominating, Galway rushed John Lee off the bench and by the break they had reasserted some control having led by 0-5 to 0-1 before the goal rush.
Niall Healy also came on and fired over a quick point on the restart and Offaly, now playing into a strong breeze, were instantly feeling the pinch.
Canning, scorer of two effortless second-half sidelines, pounced for Galway's first goal after Cyril Donnellan's path was blocked on 42 minutes and brought parity (1-14 to 3-8) and within a minute Farragher followed up the rebound from Aongus Callanan's strike to put them ahead.
With the impressive midfielder David Burke adding a point, Galway fastened their belts for what looked like a free wheel home before. But there was a sting in the tail for them as the free wheel became a white knuckle ride.
Scorers -- Offaly: S Dooley 1-7 (0-6f), J Bergin 1-2, J Brady 1-1, D Hayden, B Carroll 0-2 each, R Hannify, D Molloy 0-1 each.
Galway: G Farragher (0-2f, 0-1 '65', 0-1 sl), J Canning (0-2 sl, 0-1f), 1-5 each, D Hayes, I Tannian, D Burke 0-2 each, T Og Regan, A Callanan, N Healy 0-1 each.
Offaly -- J Dempsey 7; D Franks 7, D Kenny 7, J Rigney 6; S Egan 7, P Cleary 7, D Morkhan 8; B Murphy 6, D Hayden 7; D Molloy 7, J Brady 7, R Hannify 7; S Dooley 8, J Bergin 8, D Molloy 7. Subs: D Currams 4 for Molloy (h-t), K Brady 6 for Murphy (44), G Healion for Brady (67), O Kelly for Carroll (68).
Galway -- C Callanan 6; D Joyce 6, S Kavanagh 5, O Canning 5; D Barry 5, T Og Regan 8, D Collins 7; G Farragher 7, D Burke 7; D Hayes 6, C Donnellan 5, A Callanan 7; A Harte 5, J Canning 7, I Tannian 7. Subs: J Lee 7 for Barry (30), N Healy 6 for Harte (ht), K Hynes 4 for Donnellan (51), J Gantley for Hynes (67).
Ref -- J Ryan (Tipperary)
- Colm Keys
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28590.html
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
Offaly boss keeps cool over 'harsh' sending-off
It was with a glint in his eye and a touch of roguery that Offaly manager Joe Dooley met the anticipated question about the difficulty his side had in getting all the frees they might have merited.
"I'd probably agree (Offaly had to work harder for those frees). Maybe the Galway/Kilkenny ideal Leinster final was probably what was wanted but we have to do our own thing," smiled Dooley.
Dooley had just watched his son Shane force an equaliser from a difficult angle with his side reduced to 14 men for the last 24 minutes after Daniel Currams' dismissal and, while not agreeing with it, he was a little more circumspect about that decision.
"He (referee Johnny Ryan) has only has a split second to make up his mind. I thought the sending off was harsh decision but he only had that split second. We can all look up at it on the screen."
The result represents a shot in the arm for Offaly hurling, given the way the game was going.
"Galway looked as if they were really going to walk away with it and the sending off coincided with their dominance as well. We just kept plugging and battling. It gives us great heart now for the next day."
On the subject of some of the refereeing calls, Dooley's Galway counterpart John McIntyre was in full agreement.
"I think on balance, we probably got more of the breaks from the man in the middle than Offaly did.
"Ger Farragher's sideline? It was wide. Straight up. And that's what I mean. Galway got the breaks today from the match officials. I'm not saying we got them deliberately or anything like that.
"Maybe we got a bit complacent and eased off with the opposition reduced to 14 men. I thought it was a harsh call. But I'm not going to be critical of Johnny Ryan or anything like that."
- Colm Keys
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28631.html
It was with a glint in his eye and a touch of roguery that Offaly manager Joe Dooley met the anticipated question about the difficulty his side had in getting all the frees they might have merited.
"I'd probably agree (Offaly had to work harder for those frees). Maybe the Galway/Kilkenny ideal Leinster final was probably what was wanted but we have to do our own thing," smiled Dooley.
Dooley had just watched his son Shane force an equaliser from a difficult angle with his side reduced to 14 men for the last 24 minutes after Daniel Currams' dismissal and, while not agreeing with it, he was a little more circumspect about that decision.
"He (referee Johnny Ryan) has only has a split second to make up his mind. I thought the sending off was harsh decision but he only had that split second. We can all look up at it on the screen."
The result represents a shot in the arm for Offaly hurling, given the way the game was going.
"Galway looked as if they were really going to walk away with it and the sending off coincided with their dominance as well. We just kept plugging and battling. It gives us great heart now for the next day."
On the subject of some of the refereeing calls, Dooley's Galway counterpart John McIntyre was in full agreement.
"I think on balance, we probably got more of the breaks from the man in the middle than Offaly did.
"Ger Farragher's sideline? It was wide. Straight up. And that's what I mean. Galway got the breaks today from the match officials. I'm not saying we got them deliberately or anything like that.
"Maybe we got a bit complacent and eased off with the opposition reduced to 14 men. I thought it was a harsh call. But I'm not going to be critical of Johnny Ryan or anything like that."
- Colm Keys
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28631.html
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
Game at a glance
Man of the match
Shane Dooley (Offaly)
Derek Morkan and David Kenny stuck their hands up in defence but for nerves of steel in facing up to that equalising free, Dooley gets the nod. Had a hand in two of the three goals.
Turning point
Daniel Currams'46th-minute red card. The game was slipping out of Offaly's grasp but with a cause to rally around, they reeled off the next three points.
Talking point
The best match of the championship so far. Offaly showed wonderful spirit to defy the odds. Galway's title credentials have been softened.
Ref watch
When both managers are in agreement that Offaly got the breaks then there has to be something in it. In the context of other fouls, Currams' red card looked slightly harsh.
What they said
Joe Dooley (Offaly manager):
"I'd probably agree (Offaly had to work harder for frees). Maybe the Galway/ Kilkenny ideal Leinster final was what was wanted but we have to do our own thing."
John McIntyre (Galway manager):
"We probably got more of the breaks from the man in the middle than Offaly did. We were lucky in some respects to have gotten a draw."
Match statistics
Wides: Offaly 8 (3); Galway 14 (9).
Frees: Offaly 13 (3); Galway 11 (8).
Yellow cards: Offaly 1 (D Franks 36); Galway 1 (C Donnellan 36).
Red cards: Offaly 1 (D Currams 46); Galway 0.
Attendance: 25,260.
What next?
They go at it again on Saturday in the replay.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28634.html
Man of the match
Shane Dooley (Offaly)
Derek Morkan and David Kenny stuck their hands up in defence but for nerves of steel in facing up to that equalising free, Dooley gets the nod. Had a hand in two of the three goals.
Turning point
Daniel Currams'46th-minute red card. The game was slipping out of Offaly's grasp but with a cause to rally around, they reeled off the next three points.
Talking point
The best match of the championship so far. Offaly showed wonderful spirit to defy the odds. Galway's title credentials have been softened.
Ref watch
When both managers are in agreement that Offaly got the breaks then there has to be something in it. In the context of other fouls, Currams' red card looked slightly harsh.
What they said
Joe Dooley (Offaly manager):
"I'd probably agree (Offaly had to work harder for frees). Maybe the Galway/ Kilkenny ideal Leinster final was what was wanted but we have to do our own thing."
John McIntyre (Galway manager):
"We probably got more of the breaks from the man in the middle than Offaly did. We were lucky in some respects to have gotten a draw."
Match statistics
Wides: Offaly 8 (3); Galway 14 (9).
Frees: Offaly 13 (3); Galway 11 (8).
Yellow cards: Offaly 1 (D Franks 36); Galway 1 (C Donnellan 36).
Red cards: Offaly 1 (D Currams 46); Galway 0.
Attendance: 25,260.
What next?
They go at it again on Saturday in the replay.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28634.html
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
NICKY ENGLISH
[...]
The other semi-final proved better value. It was a typical Offaly ambush on Galway and at half-time you’d have said they’d do well to get out in one piece. But then once Ger Farragher and Joe Canning got those goals they looked to have pulled it out of the fire but still didn’t manage to put the game away.
It was a poor display by the league winners and Iarla Tannian was the only bright spark in the whole malfunctioning attack.
Offaly deserved the draw. I though Daniel Currams was really unlucky to be sent off but strangely, it seemed to drive them on as much as, if not more than, it undermined them.
They had some excellent performances on the day. David Kenny is a serious Offaly full back in the Kevin Kinahan mould – he even moves uncannily like him. They were also dangerous up front. Shane Dooley was outstanding and Joe Brady and Derek Molloy were also menacing.
But for Galway this wasn’t good news. They have more question marks over them now than when they went into the match – which they ended up lucky to escape from despite playing 14 men in the end.
Their full-back line was in trouble and their forwards struggled at all stages, limiting their threat to that short scoring burst in the second half.
I didn’t get a chance yet to see the Munster match but Limerick probably did better than expected, especially since they were down a man for so long. Cork were on a hiding to nothing and will be glad to get back to the Munster final.
At the end of the day even after just one routine display Kilkenny’s status as front runners has been strengthened in relation to their highest-rated challengers. Galway look no better than last year and Tipperary certainly couldn’t be said to have improved.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 53297.html
[...]
The other semi-final proved better value. It was a typical Offaly ambush on Galway and at half-time you’d have said they’d do well to get out in one piece. But then once Ger Farragher and Joe Canning got those goals they looked to have pulled it out of the fire but still didn’t manage to put the game away.
It was a poor display by the league winners and Iarla Tannian was the only bright spark in the whole malfunctioning attack.
Offaly deserved the draw. I though Daniel Currams was really unlucky to be sent off but strangely, it seemed to drive them on as much as, if not more than, it undermined them.
They had some excellent performances on the day. David Kenny is a serious Offaly full back in the Kevin Kinahan mould – he even moves uncannily like him. They were also dangerous up front. Shane Dooley was outstanding and Joe Brady and Derek Molloy were also menacing.
But for Galway this wasn’t good news. They have more question marks over them now than when they went into the match – which they ended up lucky to escape from despite playing 14 men in the end.
Their full-back line was in trouble and their forwards struggled at all stages, limiting their threat to that short scoring burst in the second half.
I didn’t get a chance yet to see the Munster match but Limerick probably did better than expected, especially since they were down a man for so long. Cork were on a hiding to nothing and will be glad to get back to the Munster final.
At the end of the day even after just one routine display Kilkenny’s status as front runners has been strengthened in relation to their highest-rated challengers. Galway look no better than last year and Tipperary certainly couldn’t be said to have improved.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 53297.html
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
Cats look too hot to handle for any rivals
By Cyril Farrell
[...]
The Cats' position was strengthened by Galway's performance against Offaly yesterday. They believe they are genuine All-Ireland contenders but Kilkenny would have wiped the floor with either the Tribesmen or Offaly.
Galway's major worry comes from their full-back line. They conceded goals too easily and seemed to be worried by the high ball. Offaly were game and the goals copper-fastened their belief, and they have to be given credit for the way in which they reacted to the harsh dismissal of Daniel Currams.
At that point, Galway looked set to kick on but the ice-cool Shane Dooley bagged an excellent late free to secure a replay next weekend.
John McIntyre's side have more room for improvement than the midlanders and, should Galway get their expected win, it will stand to them going into a Leinster final clash with Kilkenny. They have problems, though, with the entire defence looking less than convincing. Kevin Hynes was brought on and taken off, which is never a good sign, and Donal Barry, who had a good league campaign, was the first man off.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28626.html
By Cyril Farrell
[...]
The Cats' position was strengthened by Galway's performance against Offaly yesterday. They believe they are genuine All-Ireland contenders but Kilkenny would have wiped the floor with either the Tribesmen or Offaly.
Galway's major worry comes from their full-back line. They conceded goals too easily and seemed to be worried by the high ball. Offaly were game and the goals copper-fastened their belief, and they have to be given credit for the way in which they reacted to the harsh dismissal of Daniel Currams.
At that point, Galway looked set to kick on but the ice-cool Shane Dooley bagged an excellent late free to secure a replay next weekend.
John McIntyre's side have more room for improvement than the midlanders and, should Galway get their expected win, it will stand to them going into a Leinster final clash with Kilkenny. They have problems, though, with the entire defence looking less than convincing. Kevin Hynes was brought on and taken off, which is never a good sign, and Donal Barry, who had a good league campaign, was the first man off.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 28626.html
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
Justice done as Dooley has last say for Faithful
Galway 2-19 Offaly 3-16
By Brendan O’Brien
Monday, June 21, 2010
SOME day, somehow, John McIntyre and Offaly hurling are going to catch a break.
Not our words but McIntyre’s during what was a particularly frustrating spell in charge of the midland county some years ago.
Well, he finally got that break yesterday and how ironic that it should come against his old charges, who rolled back the years in giving a vintage display that could have yielded victory.
That McIntyre’s Galway side clung on for a draw was somewhat fortunate for the fact is that they did so on the back of a hotly-disputed first-half sideline point from Ger Farragher that was clearly wide.
That controversial score was claimed as early as the fourth minute and it seemed at the time as though the accuracy or otherwise of the midfielder’s effort would be immaterial, such was Galway’s dominance in the opening exchanges.
Instead, Offaly recovered to hit three goals in the space of 14 eye-rubbing first-half minutes. They led by seven points at one point and came back to level matters twice in the space of the final 10 minutes.
There was no limit to their determination and it would be no exaggeration to say that it rekindled memories of the county’s greatest days in the 1980s and 90s when they habitually thumbed their noses up at the game’s aristocracy.
Nothing it seemed, could keep them down. Even when Daniel Currams saw red for a frontal challenge on David Burke midway through the second half, Offaly responded with six of the next seven points. It was exhilarating and bewildering in equal measure.
Offaly had approached the tie on the back of a fortunate escape against Antrim in the quarter-final, a hammering against Cork in a recent challenge match and their U21s’ annihilation at the hands of Kilkenny.
Quite simply, no-one saw this coming.
True, Galway had laboured at times in their win over Wexford and they approached this tie on the back of some significant injury concerns but no-one seriously expected them to struggle this badly.
That they did had a lot to do with their full-back line, one that contains some heralded defenders but which had nevertheless been singled out as a possible weak link in one Offaly newspaper.
Youth got the better of experience for the first two goals which they conceded. To be more specific, Shane Dooley got the better of Ollie Canning and the Galway defender will cringe at the memory of both.
The Tullamore youngster skipped inside the former All-Star and down the line for the first and, though Colm Callanan saved his shot, the rebound dropped favourably for Joe Brady and Offaly were on level terms.
Eight minutes later and Dooley rose above Canning to fetch a Joe Bergin ball before finding the net, and Bergin performed a similar trick on Shane Kavanagh for the third nine minutes before the break.
That last effort left Offaly six points in front and Galway were momentarily panicked judging by Joe Canning’s unsuccessful shot on goal a minute later when a calming point was the obvious choice.
Offaly’s defence deserves its share of the credit for the reversal in fortunes. David Kenny shadowed Canning to great effect all day and McIntyre’s six starting forwards finished the game with just 1-7 between them from play.
The underdogs found half-time with a five-point lead and they disappeared down the tunnel past Brian Cody and the rest of the Kilkenny entourage who sat transfixed in the Hogan Stand for the rest of the afternoon.
Visions of an historic upset dwindled appreciably on the restart when, with the breeze at their backs, Galway’s inevitable riposte delivered a rapidly constructed tally of 2-4. The goals arrived within seconds of each other. Canning claimed the first after a piercing run by Cyril Donnellan and Farragher netted the second after Aongus Callanan’s shot was batted away by James Dempsey.
When Currams walked the line soon after it seemed as though Galway had surfed the roughest waves but Offaly embarked a scoring burst of their own while simultaneously shutting their opponents out for the next 16 minutes.
It wasn’t vintage hurling by any means. There were far too many aimless balls played on both sides for that but it was undeniably engrossing, never more so than when Dooley claimed the draw with a free from just inside the Galway half and deep into injury-time.
It was the least they deserved but the thought of Farragher’s questionable first-half score will gnaw away at Joe Dooley and his boys if Galway reinforce the fact that underdogs rarely win replays.
Offaly: J Dempsey; D Franks, P Cleary, J Rigney; S Egan, D Kenny, D Morkan; R Hanniffy (0-1), D Hayden (0-2); B Carroll (0-2), J Brady (1-1), D Molloy (0-1); B Murphy, J Bergin (1-2), S Dooley (1-7, 7f). Subs: D Currams for D Molloy (HT); K Brady for Murphy (44); G Healion for J Brady (67); O Kealey for Carroll (68).
Galway: C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Og Regan (0-1), D Collins; G Farragher (1-5, 3f, 1 65), D Burke (0-2); D Hayes, C Donnellan, A Callanan (0-1); A Harte, J Canning (1-6, 1f, 2 sl), I Tannian (0-1). Subs: J Lee for Barry (30); N Healy (0-1) for Harte (HT); K Hynes for Donnellan (51); J Gantley for Hynes (67).
Ref - Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
Read more: http://examiner.ie/sport/gaa/justice-do ... z0rTYl5CBy
Galway 2-19 Offaly 3-16
By Brendan O’Brien
Monday, June 21, 2010
SOME day, somehow, John McIntyre and Offaly hurling are going to catch a break.
Not our words but McIntyre’s during what was a particularly frustrating spell in charge of the midland county some years ago.
Well, he finally got that break yesterday and how ironic that it should come against his old charges, who rolled back the years in giving a vintage display that could have yielded victory.
That McIntyre’s Galway side clung on for a draw was somewhat fortunate for the fact is that they did so on the back of a hotly-disputed first-half sideline point from Ger Farragher that was clearly wide.
That controversial score was claimed as early as the fourth minute and it seemed at the time as though the accuracy or otherwise of the midfielder’s effort would be immaterial, such was Galway’s dominance in the opening exchanges.
Instead, Offaly recovered to hit three goals in the space of 14 eye-rubbing first-half minutes. They led by seven points at one point and came back to level matters twice in the space of the final 10 minutes.
There was no limit to their determination and it would be no exaggeration to say that it rekindled memories of the county’s greatest days in the 1980s and 90s when they habitually thumbed their noses up at the game’s aristocracy.
Nothing it seemed, could keep them down. Even when Daniel Currams saw red for a frontal challenge on David Burke midway through the second half, Offaly responded with six of the next seven points. It was exhilarating and bewildering in equal measure.
Offaly had approached the tie on the back of a fortunate escape against Antrim in the quarter-final, a hammering against Cork in a recent challenge match and their U21s’ annihilation at the hands of Kilkenny.
Quite simply, no-one saw this coming.
True, Galway had laboured at times in their win over Wexford and they approached this tie on the back of some significant injury concerns but no-one seriously expected them to struggle this badly.
That they did had a lot to do with their full-back line, one that contains some heralded defenders but which had nevertheless been singled out as a possible weak link in one Offaly newspaper.
Youth got the better of experience for the first two goals which they conceded. To be more specific, Shane Dooley got the better of Ollie Canning and the Galway defender will cringe at the memory of both.
The Tullamore youngster skipped inside the former All-Star and down the line for the first and, though Colm Callanan saved his shot, the rebound dropped favourably for Joe Brady and Offaly were on level terms.
Eight minutes later and Dooley rose above Canning to fetch a Joe Bergin ball before finding the net, and Bergin performed a similar trick on Shane Kavanagh for the third nine minutes before the break.
That last effort left Offaly six points in front and Galway were momentarily panicked judging by Joe Canning’s unsuccessful shot on goal a minute later when a calming point was the obvious choice.
Offaly’s defence deserves its share of the credit for the reversal in fortunes. David Kenny shadowed Canning to great effect all day and McIntyre’s six starting forwards finished the game with just 1-7 between them from play.
The underdogs found half-time with a five-point lead and they disappeared down the tunnel past Brian Cody and the rest of the Kilkenny entourage who sat transfixed in the Hogan Stand for the rest of the afternoon.
Visions of an historic upset dwindled appreciably on the restart when, with the breeze at their backs, Galway’s inevitable riposte delivered a rapidly constructed tally of 2-4. The goals arrived within seconds of each other. Canning claimed the first after a piercing run by Cyril Donnellan and Farragher netted the second after Aongus Callanan’s shot was batted away by James Dempsey.
When Currams walked the line soon after it seemed as though Galway had surfed the roughest waves but Offaly embarked a scoring burst of their own while simultaneously shutting their opponents out for the next 16 minutes.
It wasn’t vintage hurling by any means. There were far too many aimless balls played on both sides for that but it was undeniably engrossing, never more so than when Dooley claimed the draw with a free from just inside the Galway half and deep into injury-time.
It was the least they deserved but the thought of Farragher’s questionable first-half score will gnaw away at Joe Dooley and his boys if Galway reinforce the fact that underdogs rarely win replays.
Offaly: J Dempsey; D Franks, P Cleary, J Rigney; S Egan, D Kenny, D Morkan; R Hanniffy (0-1), D Hayden (0-2); B Carroll (0-2), J Brady (1-1), D Molloy (0-1); B Murphy, J Bergin (1-2), S Dooley (1-7, 7f). Subs: D Currams for D Molloy (HT); K Brady for Murphy (44); G Healion for J Brady (67); O Kealey for Carroll (68).
Galway: C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Og Regan (0-1), D Collins; G Farragher (1-5, 3f, 1 65), D Burke (0-2); D Hayes, C Donnellan, A Callanan (0-1); A Harte, J Canning (1-6, 1f, 2 sl), I Tannian (0-1). Subs: J Lee for Barry (30); N Healy (0-1) for Harte (HT); K Hynes for Donnellan (51); J Gantley for Hynes (67).
Ref - Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
Read more: http://examiner.ie/sport/gaa/justice-do ... z0rTYl5CBy
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
Sean Og O hAilpin:
Hats off to King Henry and Offaly
Offaly’s performance against Galway was probably the biggest surprise this weekend. We had played Offaly the week before in a challenge game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, and I know you can’t read too much int challenge matches but based on that you’d have thought Galway would have too much in hand, so it was a huge surprise to see them draw with Galway.
So hats off to Offaly but you have to kind of feel sorry for them because the underdog only gets one opportunity. Looking ahead to the replay next weekend, Galway are forewarned now so they’ll be better prepared. You’d expect them to do the business this time.
Hurling needs counties like Offaly to challenge again. If hurling stays the way it is, you’ll have All-Irelands every year contested by Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork. The likes of Offaly, Wexford, Waterford, Limerick, Clare, Waterford, hurling needs one of them to come in with an All-Ireland title.
They’re all competitive on any given day but they need to be competitive over a whole summer. If they don’t, interest will wane in those counties and if that happens there will be a big question mark over the future of hurling.
http://www.joe.ie/002908/1/1/story/hats ... and-offaly
Hats off to King Henry and Offaly
Offaly’s performance against Galway was probably the biggest surprise this weekend. We had played Offaly the week before in a challenge game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, and I know you can’t read too much int challenge matches but based on that you’d have thought Galway would have too much in hand, so it was a huge surprise to see them draw with Galway.
So hats off to Offaly but you have to kind of feel sorry for them because the underdog only gets one opportunity. Looking ahead to the replay next weekend, Galway are forewarned now so they’ll be better prepared. You’d expect them to do the business this time.
Hurling needs counties like Offaly to challenge again. If hurling stays the way it is, you’ll have All-Irelands every year contested by Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork. The likes of Offaly, Wexford, Waterford, Limerick, Clare, Waterford, hurling needs one of them to come in with an All-Ireland title.
They’re all competitive on any given day but they need to be competitive over a whole summer. If they don’t, interest will wane in those counties and if that happens there will be a big question mark over the future of hurling.
http://www.joe.ie/002908/1/1/story/hats ... and-offaly
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Re: Offaly vs.Galway - Newspaper cuttings (21/06/2010)
http://www.galwaynews.ie/13519-hurlers- ... erformance
Hurlers draw small comfort from a poor performance
Galway 2-19
Offaly 3-16
STEPHEN GLENNON
IN CROKE PARK
Were it not for the glorious sunshine and the redolence of suncream hanging in the humid summer air, Galway folk could have been forgiven if they thought that Halloween was upon them at Croke Park on Sunday. For, not to put too fine a point on it, the Galway senior hurlers got the fright of their lives from fearless underdogs Offaly in this pulsating Leinster semi-final.
The colours of Freddie Krueger’s ‘geansaí’ may now be a part of cinematic folklore, but for the Tribesmen it was the green, white and gold of the Faithful County that almost made this experience on Jones Road a living nightmare. For just like the fiendish Freddie, Offaly too often had the knack of popping up to slash and burn the Galway defence just when it was least expected.
Indeed, given Galway’s bright opening to this contest – leading 0-5 to 0-1 after just 10 minutes – no one of the 25,260 strong crowd could have foreseen that Joe Dooley’s men would turn this deficit around to lead 3-7 to 0-9 after 31 minutes, having all but shredded the Westerners’ rearguard.
Despite bouncing back into a commanding 2-15 (21) to 3-8 (17) lead after just 10 minutes of the second period, the nightmare continued for John McIntyre’s charges thereafter, as they struggled to come to terms with the fire and brimstone of a, by now, 14-man Offaly juggernaut.
In many respects, the harsh sending off of half-time substitute Daniel Currams on 46 minutes did nothing more than galvanise Offaly, who, having watched as Galway received a white flag for a Ger Farragher sideline cut that was clearly wide in the first half, were now transported back to the days of pikes and pitchforks.
This was their cause and for the remainder of the half they fought like a Clan of old, outscoring their rivals by eight points to four. This was no longer the ‘Galway match’, as it had been referred to all week. This was all Offaly. Old Offaly, new Offaly, it didn’t matter. This was championship Offaly at their best.
While it has been some time since the Faithful produced such a credible display – underlined by the delirium of their fans after the final whistle – it was still in their psyche to see this one out to the bitter end. That is provincial championship hurling and its uniqueness is perhaps something that has been lost on the men from the West, or at the very least, something that they have failed to grasp. Certainly, it’s a different beast to the qualifier system that the Tribesmen have become so accustomed to.
Hurlers draw small comfort from a poor performance
Galway 2-19
Offaly 3-16
STEPHEN GLENNON
IN CROKE PARK
Were it not for the glorious sunshine and the redolence of suncream hanging in the humid summer air, Galway folk could have been forgiven if they thought that Halloween was upon them at Croke Park on Sunday. For, not to put too fine a point on it, the Galway senior hurlers got the fright of their lives from fearless underdogs Offaly in this pulsating Leinster semi-final.
The colours of Freddie Krueger’s ‘geansaí’ may now be a part of cinematic folklore, but for the Tribesmen it was the green, white and gold of the Faithful County that almost made this experience on Jones Road a living nightmare. For just like the fiendish Freddie, Offaly too often had the knack of popping up to slash and burn the Galway defence just when it was least expected.
Indeed, given Galway’s bright opening to this contest – leading 0-5 to 0-1 after just 10 minutes – no one of the 25,260 strong crowd could have foreseen that Joe Dooley’s men would turn this deficit around to lead 3-7 to 0-9 after 31 minutes, having all but shredded the Westerners’ rearguard.
Despite bouncing back into a commanding 2-15 (21) to 3-8 (17) lead after just 10 minutes of the second period, the nightmare continued for John McIntyre’s charges thereafter, as they struggled to come to terms with the fire and brimstone of a, by now, 14-man Offaly juggernaut.
In many respects, the harsh sending off of half-time substitute Daniel Currams on 46 minutes did nothing more than galvanise Offaly, who, having watched as Galway received a white flag for a Ger Farragher sideline cut that was clearly wide in the first half, were now transported back to the days of pikes and pitchforks.
This was their cause and for the remainder of the half they fought like a Clan of old, outscoring their rivals by eight points to four. This was no longer the ‘Galway match’, as it had been referred to all week. This was all Offaly. Old Offaly, new Offaly, it didn’t matter. This was championship Offaly at their best.
While it has been some time since the Faithful produced such a credible display – underlined by the delirium of their fans after the final whistle – it was still in their psyche to see this one out to the bitter end. That is provincial championship hurling and its uniqueness is perhaps something that has been lost on the men from the West, or at the very least, something that they have failed to grasp. Certainly, it’s a different beast to the qualifier system that the Tribesmen have become so accustomed to.