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| Offaly minors stun hotly fancied Cork - Sunday, July 31, 2005
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OFFALY 1-9
CORK 0-10
Some 41 years after their only previous clash at this level, Offaly's minor footballers stunned Cork in Portlaoise yesterday to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Offaly hit four sloppy wides in the early stages as Cork did all the scoring. Fiachra Lynch opened their account with a point after three minutes, and Colm O'Neill added their second from a free in the seventh minute. David Kearney kicked two points in succession for Cork, before Ross Brady opened the Offaly account with a point from a free. Two minutes later, Rory O'Connor halved the deficit, but then became the villain when Offaly were awarded a penalty and his poorly-struck shot was easily saved.
Cork stretched their lead with a David Kearney point but a great Offaly move saw Stephen Lonergan place midfielder Connor Mahon for a well-taken goal and the sides were level. Colm O'Neill regained the lead for Cork after 26 minutes but almost immediately Pauric Duffy had a chance of second Offaly goal but his screaming shot grazed the crossbar as it flew over. On the stroke of half-time, Niall Darby regained the lead for Offaly with a well-taken point.
Kearney slotted his fourth point for Cork to level the game before half-time substitute Barry Daly put Cork ahead, 0-8 to 1-4. Ken Casey levelled the game again and Rory O'Connor added a great point to put Offaly ahead again. Offaly were two points ahead when Ken Casey kicked his second point.
Colm O'Neill gave Cork hope with a point, and the sides were level once again when Anthony Fenton kicked a good point. But Rory O'Connor regained the lead for the Faithful County and substitute Gerry Tracy put two points between the sides with three minutes remaining.
SCORERS - Offaly: C Mahon 1-0, R O'Connor 0-3, K Casey 0-2, N Darby, G Tracy, P Duffy & R Brady 1-9. Cork: C O'Neill 0-3, D Kearney 0-4, A Fenton, S Lynch, B Daly 0-1 each.
Offaly: D Bracken, K Higgins, D Larkin, D Horan, J Knight, R Dalton, G Grehan, C Mahon, R O'Connor, N Darby, P Duffy, S Lonergan, W Mulhall, R Brady, K Casey. Subs: B Kelly for S Lonergan, G Tracy for D Larkin, J Goinan for K Higgins .
Cork: T O'Connor, J O'Callaghan, E Cotter, C O'Brien, S Kiely, M O'Brien, A Fenton, F Lynch, A Barry, C O'Driscoll, D Crowley, R Kenny, C O'Neill, D Scannell, D Kearney. Subs: D O'Donovan for D Kearney, B Daly for D Crowley, R O'Dwyer for S Kiely.
Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone)
Source: unison.ie |
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