Offaly  2-12
Wexford 1-13

Offaly claimed their first Leinster SHC win over Wexford since 2000, thanks to a two-point victory on homesoil before 7,315 spectators at a wet O'Connor Park, Tullamore this evening.

Trailing by four points after 16 minutes, the Faithful County powered to a 1-8 to 0-8 interval lead, thanks to a 33rd minute Shane Dooley goal and failed to let up in the second half as they booked a semi-final date with either Westmeath or Galway.

Offaly led by nine points entering the final quarter, and although failing to score in the closing 19 minutes,  they done enough to advance to a last-four encounter.

Tribesman manager Anthony Cunningham was an interested spectator at a game which produced a high-octane encounter, despite prevailing rain throughout.

Little separated the sides in the opening 10 minutes, with the teams tied on three occasions during this spell.

Offaly were quick off the marks, but a Brendan Murphy goal shot after 50 seconds was blocked out by Wexford full-back Keith Rossiter.

The Slaneysiders captain was a settling force in the initial stages, with Paul Morris slotting over the first of two first-half points, to open the scoring after three minutes.

Shane Dooley tied the game soon-after, but a well struck sideline cut from Diarmuid Lyng placed Wexford 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after six minutes.

Dooley levelled once more, before Morris and Brian Carroll traded scores.

The hosts had a chance to go ahead from the resulting puck-out, but Cathal Parlon squandered a chance in front of posts.

Gradually Wexford upped their game and powered to a 0-7 to 0-3 lead after 16 minutes.

Jack Guiney with a brace of frees along with PJ Nolan and Lyng registering scores from play.

A goal chance followed for Lyng in the 17th minute after the St. Martin's clubman  was played through by Morris, but with goalkeeper James Dempsey to beat, the Offaly custodian pulled off a magnificent save to force the ball out for a 65'.

Guiney failed to convert the resulting 65' with Offaly turning the game up a notch and coming back strongly into contention.

Carroll,  Joe Bergin and Dooley helped to add 1-5 to the hosts tally without reply over a 16 minute spell.

Carroll and Bergin registering a point each, before Dooley went off on a scoring spree bagging an uncontested 1-3.

The goal coming two and a half minutes before the break, after the Tullamore clubman controlled the ball well to smash it to the net leaving Wexford defender Willie Deveraux in his wake.

Wexford gained some consolation before the interval, after a three-man move finished with Rory Jacob cutting the deficit to three points at the break.

Dooley and Morris traded points inside seven minutes of the restart, but Wexford found scores hard to come by in the second half as Offaly always looked on top.

The hosts second goal arrived exactly 10 minutes after the break, when Joe Bergin gained possession from a throw-in ball and smashed the ball to the Wexford net to ensure a 2-9 to 0-9 score-line.

Scores from Brendan Murphy and Dooley helped Offaly take a nine-point lead entering the final quarter, but Wexford weren't finished yet.

The large Slaneysiders support sprung to life when the visitors were handed a life-line 12 minutes from the end after David Kenny was penalised and Guiney smashed the resulting free to the back of the Offaly net.

Offaly leading 2-12 to 1-10 at this stage, but Wexford coming more into their own.

A third point from Rory Jacob cut the deficit to four points soon-after, with Wexford given great heart at the opposite end also after Eanna Martin denied Dooley of the hosts third goal.

Wexford continued to look impressive late on as Gareth Sinnott and Guiney points cut the deficit to two points, with three and a half minutes of normal time remaining.

Guiney had a chance to blast a match-winning 30 metre free to the back of the Offaly net in injury-time, but his shot was blocked by Derek Morkan, and despite further Wexford pressure,  Offaly held out for victory.

Offaly - J Dempsey; D Franks, D Kenny, D Morkan; J Rigney, R Hanniffy, K Brady; D Horan, C Mahon; C Egan, B Carroll (0-2), B Murphy (0-1); S Dooley (1-8, 7f),  C Parlon, J Bergin (1-1). Subs: S Ryan for Egan (Blood 44-45); S Ryan for Parlon (55); C Hernon for Mahon (66); D Molloy for Murphy (72);

Wexford - E Martin; W Deveraux, K Rossiter, M O'Hanlon; Stephen Murphy, C Kenny, Shaun Murphy; E Quigley, D Redmond; PJ Nolan (O-1), G Sinnott (0-1), D Lyng (0-2, 1 s/l); P Morris (0-3), J Guiney (1-3, 1- 3f), R Jacob (0-3). Subs: D Stamp for Shaun Murphy (HT); E Moore for Deveraux (HT); H Kehoe for Quigley (43); R Kehoe for Stephen Murphy (50)

Ref - John Sexton (Cork) Tweet

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