Offaly 2-25 Dublin 2-13:With both Offaly and Dublin having lost to Cork and Tipperary in the earlier qualifying rounds of the senior hurling championship, avoiding the wooden spoon was the only incentive when they clashed in the third round at O'Connor Park on Saturday.
It was the home side that prevailed by a decisive 12-point margin, thus providing an oasis of reward in a season's desert of frustration for the county.
This was a victory that was thoroughly deserved on the run of play in a tame and tepid encounter that provided poor value for a small attendance that had forked out €20 a head to watch a game that had no real significance for either side.
Indeed, Offaly's winning margin did not truly reflect their superiority, for it was only two late goals netted by substitute Seán O'Connor and full forward Liam Ryan in the 57th and 62nd minutes that gave the Dublin tally some semblance of respectability.
The winners' attack attained a scoring accuracy that had been sadly missing in previous matches, for all six starting forwards contributed. Both midfielders Barry Teehan and Brendan Murphy and wing back Kevin Brady also hit the target.
The first half provided no inkling of the runaway pattern that was to follow for only a point separated the sides until an injury-time goal by man of the match Brian Carroll sent Offaly in at the break leading by 1-10 to 0-9.
They consolidated their position on the resumption, adding an unanswered five points within four minutes.
They never looked back, and by the 55th minute had raced into an unassailable lead of 1-21 to 0-11 which was stretched further by a well taken goal by Michael Cordial.
Dublin's late brace of goals was not sufficient to inspire hopes of a revival, particularly as Offaly took up the running again with a hat-trick of points in the closing minutes.
OFFALY: B Mullins; B O'Meara, G Oakley, D Franks; K Brady (0-1, a free), C Horn, J Rigney; B Teehan (0-1), B Murphy (0-3); E Bevans (0-3), G Hanniffy (0-1), M Cordial (1-2); B Carroll (1-8), R Hanniffy (0-1), D Murray (0-5, four frees). Subs: K Kelly for G. Hanniffy (58 mins), M Verney for Horan (60 mins), S O'Connor for Mullins (62 mins), T Corcoran for Franks (65 mins), C. Slevin for Murray (69 mins).
DUBLIN: A Nolan; P Brennan, S Hiney, R Reid; D O'Reilly, R Fallon, K Ryan; M Carton (0-1), G Bennett (0-2); S Mullen, D Qualter (0-1), D Curtin (0-6, six frees); J Kelly, L Ryan (1-2), K Flynn. Subs: G O'Meara for Reid (41 mins), S O'Connor (1-0) for K Ryan (41 mins), P Boyle for Bennett (53 mins), R Donnelly (0-1) for O'Reilly (58 mins).
Referee: J Owens (Wexford).
