Offaly SHC: Connolly clinches it for Coolderry
October 17, 2011
Offaly and Coolderry's Kevin Brady
Coolderry 2-14
Birr 0-16
Having led by seven points at the break, Ken Hogan's charges found themselves clinging on to a one-point lead before Connolly finally ended Birr's brave challenge in injury-time. Birr showed a lot of the character of old, but lacked the quality to unseat the champions who were deserving winners.
Favoured by the wind in the first half, Coolderry made a dream start when Eoin Ryan had the ball in the net after just 40 seconds. With Kevin Brady on top at midfield and Damien Murray lethal from placed balls, they had eased into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead after nine minutes and led by double scores - 1-11 to 0-7 - at half-time. Indeed, their lead would have been greater had former county star Murray not missed a guilt-edged goal chance just before the break.
Coolderry extended their advantage to 1-13 to 0-8 within two minutes of the restart, but Birr refused to wilt and, with Dylan Hayden leading by example, they reeled off six unanswered points to leave just two in it with 13 minutes remaining.
Murray's free briefly broke Birr's momentum before two Thomas Bolger points left the minimum in it, 1-14 to 0-16, with eight minutes to go.
Birr had chances to get their noses in front, but didn't take them and were punished when Connolly's late strike sealed victory for Coolderry.
SCORERS - Coolderry: D Murray 0-8 (4f and 1 '65'), E Ryan 1-2, K Connolly 1-0, K Brady 0-2, C Parlon and B Teehan 0-1 each; Birr: T Bolger 0-8 (6f), D Hayden 0-3, B Harding 0-2 (1f and 1 '65), S Ryan, P Molloy and G Hanniffy 0-1 each.
COOLDERRY - S Corcoran; B Kelly, T Corcoran, A Corcoran; D King, J Brady, B O'Meara; K Teehan, K Brady; B Carroll, B Teehan, M Corcoran; E Ryan, C Parlon, D Murray. Subs: K Connolly for M Corcoran (50m), B Larkin for Kelly (54m), M Bergin for A Corcoran (61m).
BIRR - B Mullins; JP O'Meara, P Cleary, M Verney; N Rogers, B Harding, B Watkins; R Hanniffy, P Molloy; G Hanniffy, D Hayden, Barry Whelahan; T Bolger, S Ryan, B Murphy. Subs: B Lonergan for O'Meara (26m), B Nolan for Murphy (41m).
REF - B Gavin (Clara). Tweet
