Hat-trick of goals secures Offaly’s passage to Leinster quarter-final

Offaly 3-19 Kerry 0-20

A relieved Offaly secured a place in the Leinster quarter-finals against Laois with what in the end up was a deserved win over Kerry in Tullamore on Sunday.

Very much flattered by the final scoreline of 3-19 to 0-20, Offaly were still the better side and much improved from their last two outings, though they were forced to dig deep by a resolute Kerry.

The first half was a real end to end affair with both sides enjoying long spells in the driving seat. Playing with the wind at their backs, Kerry were the better side early on and it seemed that they couldn’t miss as they led by 0-5 to 0-2 after six minutes.

Then Offaly found their feet with Shane Dooley displaying great accuracy from placed balls. Dooley was the main man as Offaly scored six points without reply to lead by 0-8 to 0-5 after 21 minutes.

Yet just when the home support were beginning to relax, Kerry took over again, scoring three points to level it up - continuing to press as they stormed into a 0-11 to 0-9 lead with half time approaching.

Although, crucially Shane Dooley’s tap in goal after James Mulrooney’s shot was half blocked gave Offaly a 1-9 to 0-11 half time lead.

Kerry got the first three points of the second half to lead by 0-14 to 1-9 after 41 minutes but this was as good as it got for them.

Dooley got the next three points from frees and Joe Bergin’s 49th minute goal gave Offaly a 2-12 to 0-14 lead.

It was theirs to lose from here but Kerry did hang in for a good while more. Twice in the closing quarter, they had the gap back to three with Shane Nolan finding the target from frees. With five minutes left, it was 2-15 to 0-18 but Offaly pushed on from here, scoring four late points while Joe Bergin finally clinched it with a flicked goal four minutes from time as Kerry could only reply through consolation points from Nolan and John Egan.

OFFALY: J Dempsey; P Rigney, D Shortt, C McDonald; D Mooney, S Gardiner, D King; R Ryan, P Camon; P Murphy, S Kinsella (0-1), C Kiely (0-1); J Mulrooney (0-1), J Bergin (2-2), S Dooley (1-10 (8f, 1 '65' and 1 sideline). Sub - K Connolly (0-2) for Camon (35m), B Conneely for Mooney (55m), P Guinan (0-1) for Kinsella (58m), L Langton (0-1) for Murphy (65m), S Cleary for Kiely (65m).

KERRY: A McCabe; K Carmody, P Kelly. B Murphy; J Diggins (0-1), D Dinneen, T Murnane; D Collins (0-2), J Griffin (0-2); B Barrett (0-3), P Lucid, S Nolan (0-8, 6f); J Goulding, J Egan (0-3), J Conway. Sub - M O'Leary for Lucid (29m), D Fitzell for Murphy (52m), B O'Leary for Conway (55m), T Casey (0-1) for Collins (60m).

Referee - P O’Dwyer (Kerry).