Walsh Shield final: Faithful too strong for Carlow
June 16, 2011
My ball as Offaly's David Kenny gains possession ahead of Carlow's Paul Coady.
Offaly 3-23
Carlow 2-14
Offaly chairman Pat Teehan sat directly behind hurling boss Joe Dooley on the sideline, despite the current standoff between Dooley's team and the county board over the use of O'Connor Park in Tullamore.
Teehan refused to comment on the controversy afterwards, and would only confirm that a special meeting of the county executive had taken place on Tuesday night. Dooley was also tight-lipped, only saying: "It's important that we stay focussed because there is a lot of stuff going on.
"It's important that we concentrate on our job, so for that reason we are keeping our heads down."
A James Mulrooney goal proved the difference in the opening stages as Offaly opened up a 1-4 to 0-4 lead after 11 minutes. Carlow edged ahead in the 23rd minute following a Craig Doyle goal but Offaly closed out the half to take a 1-12 to 1-10 interval lead.
Doyle netted again in the 43rd minute, and points from Ruairi Dunbar and Brian Doyle left just the minimum in it before Offaly pulled away with late goals from Joe Brady and last year's minor Thomas Carroll.
Offaly: J Dempsey; P Healion, D Kenny, S Egan; D Hayden (0-1), E Murphy, D Morkan; D Currams (0-3, 1 sl), C Mahon (0-1); S Dooley (0-9, 7f), G Healion (0-1), C Egan; B Carroll (0-4), J Bergin (0-3), J Mulrooney (1-1). Subs: C Parlon for P Healion (half-time); B Murphy (0-1) for Mahon (49); J Brady (1-0) for G Healion (53); T Carroll (1-1) for B Carroll (63); M Morkan for S Egan (68).
Carlow: N Roberts; A Corcoran, J Rogers, D Shaw; E Coady, D Kavanagh, R Coady; D English, S Kavanagh (0-2, 1 65', 1f); C Doyle (2-2), E Byrne (0-1), R Dunbar (0-7, 5f); D Roberts, P Kehoe (0-1), HP OByrne. Subs: P Coady for O'Byrne (21); B Doyle (0-1) for R Coady (27); J OHara for English (40); M Brennan (0-1) for D Roberts (51); A Brennan for Kehoe (55).
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny). Tweet
