Offaly senior hurling team manager Johnny Kelly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Offaly 1-22 Westmeath 0-19
By Kevin Egan at Glenisk O’Connor Park.
It wasn’t the sensational high-scoring fare that they delivered in Croke Park a week ago, but the Offaly hurlers took another massive step towards promotion up to Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League when they outbattled Westmeath in a defence-dominated contest at Glenisk O’Connor Park.
Killian Doyle came back into the Westmeath team for his first start of the season and the Raharney man gave an instant injection of quality to the Lake County side, popping over two early points from play and giving Seoirse Bulfin an attacking fulcrum around which to build his team.
On the opposite side, Brian Duignan was exceptional, hitting one long-range free off the post and drawing white flags with his other 14 attempts, several of which were frees that were awarded when he was fouled.
Outside of those two however, there were very few attacking players that made a meaningful impact on proceedings. Oisín Kelly was strong around the middle third and he followed up his fine Croke Park performance with another three points today, while Éamon Cunneen split the uprights twice and also set up a goalscoring chance for Peter Clarke that was denied by Mark Troy, but otherwise it was a day for defenders, with Johnny Bermingham, Ciarán Burke, Jason Mahon, Robbie Greville and Donal Shirley among those that excelled.
With a strong breeze blowing down towards the Town End of the Tullamore venue, Westmeath needed a fast start, but it was Offaly who got it, firing an early goal through Killian Sampson and then playing good controlled hurling to take a 1-4 to 0-2 with ten minutes played.
Seven of the next eight points went Westmeath’s way however, with the breeze, Doyle’s accuracy and some good movement and running up front all playing a part.
A Doyle free made it 0-9 to 1-5 after 22 minutes, but Duignan again stepped up with one close range free and two superb points from play, before Westmeath again took over to lead by two (0-14 to 1-9 at half-time).
12 minutes after the restart it was 1-16 to 0-14 and it looked like Offaly might win at their ease. Duignan had been their only pointscorer in the first half but Colin Spain, Daniel Bourke and Kelly all added their names to the scoresheet with some fine strikes, while a Dan Ravenhill free from 90 metres out that carried the crossbar with plenty to spare showed that the wind might carry the Faithful to a comfortable win, and their fourth in a row.
Instead it didn’t work out that way, as their attack started to flounder, and they instead needed a series of outstanding defensive plays to stay in control. Troy’s save, a perfectly-timed dispossession from Ben Conneely and a sensational James Mahon block all helped to ensure that on the 60 minute mark, Westmeath had added just a single point – a close range Doyle free – to their tally.
Doyle did pick off another four in the last 10 minutes. Points from Duignan (three) and Ter Guinan saw Offaly over the line, all but guaranteeing their place in the league final, and up alongside the elite sides in 2026.
Scorers for Offaly: Brian Duignan 0-14 (10fs, 1 65), Killian Sampson 1-0, Oisín Kelly 0-3, Dan Ravenhill 0-2 (1f), Daniel Bourke 0-1, Colin Spain 0-1, Ter Guinan 0-1.
Scorers for Westmeath: Killian Doyle 0-14 (11f), Éamon Cunneen 0-2, Mark Cunningham 0-1, David Williams 0-1 (f), Niall O’Brien 0-1.
Offaly: Mark Troy; James Mahon, Ciarán Burke, Ben Conneely; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Oisín Kelly, Daniel Bourke, Killian Sampson; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan.
Subs: David King for J Sampson (half-time), Cillian Kiely for Bourke (57), Eoin Bourke for Dan Ravenhill (66), Ter Guinan for Mitchell (68).
Westmeath: Ciarán O’Brien; Adam Ennis, Johnny Bermingham, Gary Greville; Shane Williams, Robbie Greville, Eoin Keyes; Davy Glennon, Peter Clarke; Mark Cunningham, Killian Doyle, Niall Mitchell; Éamon Cunneen, Niall O’Brien, David Williams.
Subs: David O’Reilly for Cunningham (52), Joseph Boyle for D Williams, Aaron Craig for Ennis (65), Rory Keyes for Glennon (68).
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
