Offaly brush Wicklow aside to move into Leinster MHC preliminary quarter-finals

Offaly have ensur ed there place in the Leinster preliminary quarter-finals with a victory over Wicklow in a sun drenched Aughrim on Saturday afternoon.

This match was delayed by an hour due to Offaly’s bus breaking down en route.

The Faithful county made light work of the hour delay taking early control of this tie with. Killian Wynne goal.

The Offaly full forward line were causing havoc every time the ball went in with James Hennessy firing in a second goal in the opening half. Wicklow response before half time was 0-4 from centre forward Adam Lifely.

Leaving the visitors up by fourteen points at the interval.

Early on in the second half the Garden county started to gain a bit of a foothold with Jack O’Leary firing over two quick scores. This was the end of the home sides scoring as Adam Hogan and substitute Sean Carey combined for 0-9.

The last two scores of the games were goals from Odhran Fletcher from Offaly who finished with 1-5 to his name.

A late goal from Tom Brennan added an air of respectability to the scoreline for the home side.

Scorers:

Wicklow: A Lifely 0-5 T Brennan 1-0, J O’Leary 0-2

Offaly: O Fletcher, 1-5 4fs K Wynne 1-5 J Hennessy 1-4 S Carey 0-4, A Hogan 0-5, B Guinan 0-2, D Dooley 0-1 M Mitchell , C Egan , J Sampson, J O’Sullivan 0-1.

Teams:

Wicklow: K Lawless, S Killoran, D Murphy, N Hayes, C Goff, R Rooney, J Byrne P Martian, O Lane, J Cregan, A Lifely T Brennan, J O’Leary , C O’Toole, L Cotter. Subs: S Byrne for S Killoran, S Croke for C Goff, E Lawless for C O’Toole, F Hughes for J Byrne, D Leacy for O Lane

Offaly: M Watkins, C Berry, J Mcloughney, C Kinnarney, O Caroll, A Hogan, M Dooley, M Feenane, J O’Sullivan, B Guinan, K Wynne, J Sampson , C Egan, J Hennessy, O Fletcher. Subs: L Bracken for M Dooley , E Maher for M Feenane , S Carey for J Sampson, M Mitchell for C Egan, D Dooley for J Hennessy.

Referee: Jimmy Heavey

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