SHC QUALIFIERS- Offaly 3-19 Limerick 0-18:THE GHOSTS of 1994 came back to haunt Limerick in this All-Ireland qualifier on Saturday night. Back then Joe Dooley scored 1-2 as Offaly's astonishing late revival landed them the All-Ireland title and 14 years later it was his management skills which brought more heartbreak for Limerick.
The difference this time, though, was that as rank outsiders, Offaly were by far the superior side from start to finish.
"The result is a big boost for us. We got off to a good start and the two early goals by Joe Bergin gave us a great tonic," said Dooley.
Bergin went on to score 3-2.
"We hurled a lot better this time round on the best surface we have played on all year," added Dooley. "We took our scores well. . . . We had 10 or 11 under-21 players in action by the finish."
Those goals had a huge impact after Offaly started best and scored three points inside four minutes, two from Brian Carroll, one a free, and one from Shane Dooley. Points by Limerick's Andrew O'Shaughnessy (a free), Ollie Moran and Donie Ryan tied the game but then Bergin struck for his first goal after 15 minutes.
Kevin Brady's long ball fell between backs and forwards and Bergin got the crucial touch. Carroll and Niall Moran exchanged points before Bergin added a spectacular second goal. Gaining possession 40 metres out he waltzed through gaping defensive holes to blast past Brian Murray. Offaly added eight more points before the break and some Limerick fans booed their team as they went in trailing 2-11 to 0-6 at the interval.
Limerick had the first four points of the second half and Ollie Moran saw a goal-bound effort crash back off the crossbar. But their hopes ended after 49 minutes. Rory Hanniffy swept in a sideline cut from 50 metres and once again Bergin got the crucial touch to make it 3-12 to 0-10.
Limerick improved in the second half following the introduction of Pat Tobin, who scored five points but afterwards Limerick manager Richie Bennis was despondent. "I'm very shocked and there will have to be big soul searching. We prepared as hard as we did for any championship game last year. We didn't underestimate Offaly. Goals again today killed us and that is the simple all of it.
"We must go back to the drawing board again, whoever will be involved. I will do what I can for Limerick hurling but if a better man can be found then fine. We didn't perform today and some of our players who were All Stars last year did not perform today."
OFFALY:B Mullins; D Franks, D Kenny, M Verney; K Brady, G Oakley, D Horan (0-1, 65); B Murphy (0-1), R Hanniffy; S Dooley 0-6, one free), J Brady, D Molloy (0-2); B Carroll (0-6, one free, 65), J Bergin (3-2), D Currams (0-1). Subs: J Rigney for Horan, (64 mins), D Hayden for Currams (66 mins), C Mahon for Murphy (70 +2).
LIMERICK:B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, S Hickey; M O'Riordan, B Geary ( 0-1, 65), M Foley (0-1); D O'Grady, W McNamara (0-1); M O'Brien, O Moran, N Moran ( 0-3); A O'Shaughnessy (0-4, two frees, one 65), S O'Connor, D Ryan (0-1). Subs: D Moloney for O'Connor, 28 mins, D Sheehan (0-1) for Ryan ht, P Tobin (0-5) for O'Brien (ht), D Cosgrave for Lucey (59 mins), K Tobin (0-1) for N Moran (64 mins).
Referee:C McAllister (Cork).
