February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Pierce O’Reilly
Offaly 2-15, Kilkenny 4-18
Offaly spared nothing in their effort to gain valuable points in the first game played at Gaelic Park on Sunday. Weekender Johnny Dooley was inspirational from start to finish and his 1-13 over the hour was the highlight of the afternoon. Dooley, Joe Errity and Gary Hannify, however, failed to lift their side over the finish line in front.
When brave Kilkenny pounced, they never looked back. The Cats sprung early and top New York scorer Ollie O’Connor notched three early points to settle his side. Imports Errity and Hannify were dominant early on, but they lacked assistance from other sectors. The early exchanges were tough and physical with both sides giving there all. New York senior Vinny
Norton and weekender Rory Moore were on top around the middle, and with O’Connor deadly accurate in front of the posts, the Cats always had scoring options.
Johnny Dooley, Offaly’s best player hurled his heart out from the off and his accuracy from play and frees was a major contribution to his side’s survival. Kilkenny led by five points after 15 minutes when Offaly struck for a great goal to narrow the gap. Gary Hannify rounded his markers to drive a pile driver to the back of the Kilkenny net. The Midlanders were on top for now, but they failed to capitalize on their possession. Three minutes later they paid the price. Ollie O’Connor rattled a free to the Offaly net after Damien Mason was fouled 20 yards from goal. Both sides exchanged points before the interval with O’Connor and Dooley the marksmen.
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The second half produced much more exciting hurling. Offaly improved in all sectors and their three county imports were to the fore in every play. Dooley gave an exhibition at midfield and his ability to find the target kept his side in contention. The hurling legend is no stranger to Gaelic Park and has always delivered the goods when asked. While Offaly won the midfield battle in the second half, the Cats won the battle in attack. Up front they had real goal poachers. O’Connor and Moore were a constant threat. They moved with elegance around the full forward line
and when they got possession they rarely missed. Points from both put them 5 up after 10 minutes. Then Paul Dothney struck for goal No. 3. Kilkenny were flying and, with their defense soaking up every Offaly attack, they broke the hearts of the midlanders.
Offaly to their credit refused to buckle and with Dooley reeling off points from frees they narrowed the gap once again. In the 17th the all-star rifled a goal from the penalty spot after he was dragged down in the small square and the margin was back down to three points. In similar
fashion to the earlier score, the cats responded in style. Corner forward Paul Dothney once again slipped inside the Offaly defense and finished well to leave the score at 3-17 to 2-13. Offaly’s Johnny Dooley hit point No. 13 from play, but it arrived too late. Damien Mason’s late goal with three minutes remaining sealed victory for the Cats. Offaly goalkeeper Dan Coughlan fumbled the sliothar on his own line and Mason pulled the ball to the back of the net from close range. Kilkenny survived every Offaly rally. They had a real match winner in Ollie O’Connor at corner forward and his ability to find the target when in possession was the difference between the sides at the end. In the other corner, Dothney hit two majestic goals that knocked the stuffing out of Offaly at crucial periods in the game. Offaly has improved in leaps and bounds since there last outing. Dooley was excellent from play while Hannify never let his head down. If they had better assistance in attack they could very easily have stolen victory.
Offaly: Dan Coughlan, Mark Dolan, David Henry, Brian Delaney, Joe Errity, Enda Lohan, Johnny Dooley 1-13, Sean Nolan, Sean Donoghue, Gary Hannify 1-2, Damien Moran, Nigel Carney, Colm Scanlon.
Kilkenny: K. Korbett, Owen Mullaly, Hugh Gannon, Kevin McKay, Liam Byrne, Brendan Ryan, Vinny Norton, Rory Moore 0-5, Damien Mason 1-1, Paul Bulger, Gerry Burn 0-1, Ollie O’Connor 1-8, Paul Dothney 2-3.