U21 football

[jimbob17]

Best of luck to team tomorrow v Wexford. Should have enough for them. Enough good minor teams gone through last few years to mount serious challenge in u21. Huge expectation for these at minor with paschal Kelaghan but blew up on big day v Dublin. Didn't go right that day but enough talent there to have another real crack this year. With minor hurling team, they are our best chance of trophy this year.

[the Untouchable]

Well done to all players and management involve in beating Wexford, right now in the county we'll take any win we can get and we really needed that win to keep some kind of optimism going in the county.

Dreadful night to have to try and play football, but a win is a win & we move on to fancy Laois or Louth with the chance of making a Leinster final where more than likely we'd face Dublin!!

[Bord na Mona man]

Hayes' second-half blast puts Faithful in control
Offaly 1-6 Wexford 0-6

Offaly produced a stirring second-half display to book their place in the U-21 Leinster football semi-final after fighting off a stern Wexford challenge last night.
A Jordan Hayes goal three minutes after the restart proved the crucial score after the teams went in 0-2 each at the break.
Offaly just about hung in at the end as Wexford mounted a fightback but with Hayes and Ruairi McNamee pulling the strings in the middle third, Offaly impressed.

Driving wind and rain battered Gracefield before the game and despite it easing before throw-in, conditions made for a sloppy opening half.
There were just four scores in the first half hour as Offaly had the advantage of the breeze that strengthened as the half went on.

Ian Carty pointed for Wexford to open the scoring on four minutes but two points in quick succession for the home side from Shane Tierney and McNamee left them ahead on 15 minutes.
A Tom Byrne free three minutes later levelled matters and it stayed 0-2 apiece until the half-time whistle.

Hayes then hit 1-3 on the spin in the opening 15 minutes of the second half with the three points coming from frees as Offaly led 1-6 to 0-2.
Niall Hughes and Mark Rossiter led a late Wexford onslaught but the home side held on to make the semi-final where will face the winners of Louth and Laois.

Scorers - Offaly: J Hayes 1-3 (3fs), S Tierney 0-2, R McNamee 0-1. Wexford: N Hughes 0-2fs, I Carty, T Byrne, D Pepper M Rossiter (f) 0-1 each.
Offaly - B Rohan; C Horan, D Dempsey, C Doyle; A Mahon, C Stewart, Pj Daly; J Hayes, J Lalor; C Farrell, P Duncan, S Tierney; J Clancy, R McNamee, J Walsh. Subs: R McEvoy for J Clancy (47), L Dignam for P Dunican (59), M Abbott for S Tierney (60).

Wexford - M Doyle; S Barden, R Devereux, A Murphy; D Bolger, N Rossiter, D Barden; N Hughes, P Devereux; J Firman, I Carty, J Stafford; M Dwyer, T Byrne, M Rossiter. Subs: D Redmond for S Barden (11), D Pepper for D Bolger (40), G Malone for D Barden (51), M O'Connor for A Murphy (55), T Cody for J Stafford (60), T Bowler for P Devereux (60).
Ref - B Tiernan (Dublin)

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic- ... 94732.html

[Plain of the Herbs]

Offaly have quite a decent record at U21 level at the North Portarlington venue. Obviously they beat Kildare and Meath there a few years ago - was there another? And are they unbeaten at the venue?

[Bord na Mona man]

Ah heeohr! You'll be inspiring a keep football in Gracefield movement.

[jimbob17]

Big game tomorrow for these lads. Its a long time since Offaly played in an U21 football final but these lads are more than capable of getting there.

If they play to their potential, they should be capable of winning this game comfortably. Was impressive display from the backs against Wexford but we were very poor from midfield up only scoring 1-6 even if it was a bad night for football. There was a lot of hype about these lads a few years ago at minor level and they never turned up on the big day V Dublin in a semi final in Tullamore! They need to turn up tomorrow night.

The forwards will have to improve considerably from that game if we are to win but with likes of Ruairi McNamee and Shane Tierney inside, they are capable of doing damage with quick early ball! A scrape over the line will do, God knows the football end of county needs it after last few weeks!

[Kevin]

Big game tomorrow for these lads. Its a long time since Offaly played in an U21 football final but these lads are more than capable of getting there.

If they play to their potential, they should be capable of winning this game comfortably. Was impressive display from the backs against Wexford but we were very poor from midfield up only scoring 1-6 even if it was a bad night for football. There was a lot of hype about these lads a few years ago at minor level and they never turned up on the big day V Dublin in a semi final in Tullamore! They need to turn up tomorrow night.

The forwards will have to improve considerably from that game if we are to win but with likes of Ruairi McNamee and Shane Tierney inside, they are capable of doing damage with quick early ball! A scrape over the line will do, God knows the football end of county needs it after last few weeks!

Hear, Hear!!!

Let's go get 'em!!

Best wishes on the evening to all involved in the U21 setup.

COME ON OFFALY!!!!

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=267648

[kingscounty]

One point win, well done lads fair play first final in a while. Some good news, best of luck to all involved in the final !!!

[Bord na Mona man]

Great win!
We go again.

[feirmeoir]

Karl Stewart was substituted after 10 minutes. Was he injured?

He played well the last day against Wexford

[feirmeoir]

I saw today that the last time the u21s were in a Lenister final was 2007 when Laois beat them. Anyone know the team/panel in 2007

[jimbob17]

Heard that he was doubtful to start anyway - not sure why but must've been injured. Looked way off pace in early stages as we fell 5 points behind. Not sure he'd have the pace for this level anyway - doesn't look fit. His replacement shored things up a lot.

[Kevin]

Great job!!

Delighted to hear the good news!!!

[summerindublin]

I saw today that the last time the u21s were in a Lenister final was 2007 when Laois beat them. Anyone know the team/panel in 2007

The Offaly team was as follows: Dean Bracken (Erin's Rovers), 2. Gerry Grehan (Ferbane), 3. Ritchie Dalton (Edenderry, 4. Eoghan Byrne (Rhode) capt, 5. Stephen Lonergan (Birr), 6, Paul McConway (Tullamore), 7. James Keane (Tullamore), 8. Niall Smith (Gracefield), 9 Conor Mahon (KK), 10. Niall Darby (Rhode), 11. Rory Connor (Walsh Island), 12. Sean Ryan (Birr), 13. William Mulhall (Walsh Island), 14 Thomas Coughlan (Shamrocks), 15.Ken Casey (Croghan)

[True Red]

That was a real good under 21 team that were unlucky that evening in o'moore park.