Offaly's Through To The Final

New York GAA
Senior Hurling Semi-Final
Offaly 0-21
Galway 2-12

By Eoghan Boyle

With New Jersey/ Kilkenny awaiting the winners in the final, this was always going to be a tight affair.

Both teams got off the mark quickly with Shane Sweeney for Offaly and Dave Simms for Galway both converting early frees.

Donnie Broderick then hit three points in a row with Simms scoring in-between to leave the score at 0-04 to 0-02.

Offaly further extended their lead by seven points after scores from the ever-impressive Sweeney and midfielder Kieran McGann.

Adrian Ryan's huge puck outs from the Offaly goal were causing problems in the Galway defense.

On the twenty-minute mark one such high ball allowed Sweeney in for a goal only to have his efforts thwarted by the heroic keeping of Mike Smith in the Galway goal, who dived bravely at the full forward's feet when a goal looked inevitable.

John Culkin then began to dictate the game for Galway from the centre halfback position with most of Galway's play going through him, including a cleverly-worked free which the former All-Ireland winning minor converted from just inside the Offaly half.

Every time Galway looked like getting themselves back into it, Offaly were always able to find that little bit extra to keep the Tribesmen at bay with more scores from Donnie Broderick and two more frees from Sweeney.

Offaly got a scare just before half-time when Sweeney received a blow to the head; luckily enough for Offaly he was deemed fit to continue.

The last score of the half went to Galway as Simms added his sixth and Galway's ninth point to leave the score 0-14 to 0-09 at half time in favour of Offaly.

At the start of the second half Kieran Delaney hit two unanswered points for Galway, either side of a bad miss from Sweeney when a goal looked the more likely outcome.

He was, however, able to convert a free moments later to get Offaly's first score of the second half.

A sideline cut from Delaney dropped dangerously over the Offaly defense and, after some hesitation, Galway midfielder Aidan Moylan was able to finish into the bottom right-hand corner to leave it a two-point game.

Half-time substitute Colin White then scored a clever point to bring Offaly's lead back to three points.

Galway full back Brian Costello then won the ball after some hard fought battling and drove out of the Galway defense, he then picked out Delaney who was unlucky to see his effort come back off the upright but Ronan Sheedy was in the right place to finish impressively to the back of the net.

Moments later Moylan looked like adding his second goal of the game but it was his time to find the same upright when a score seemed certain.

Mike Smith then had Galway's hearts in their mouths when he dropped what seemed to be an easy catch in front of his goal line, however he quickly redeemed himself by getting down bravely and blocking White's goal bound effort.

Offaly then switched midfielder Kieran McGann onto John Culkin to try and stop the Galway playmaker dictating the game and the move proved to be somewhat successful with Galway scoring only once more in the rest of the game through an outstanding solo effort by Simms.

Offaly rallied however, and pulled away, scoring three points in a row through Kieran McGann and Hartley to leave the final score reading 0-21 to 2-12 in Offaly's favour to set up a NJ/Kilkenny and Offaly final.
Offaly: 1. Aidan Ryan 2. Matt Mitchell 4.Phil Myckam 5. Mike Dolan 6. Richie Gaule 7. John Kenny 8. Kieran McGann(0-05)9. Kevin McKay(0-01) 10. Niall Marshall 11. Pat Hartley (0-02)12. Donnie Broderick (0-04) 13. Cyril Donnellan 15. Shane Sweeney(0-08). Substitutes 17. Colin White(0-01) for 13. Donnellan 23. James Mitchell for 10. Marshall 16. Liam Lyng for 9. McKay
Galway: 1. Mike Smith 2. Brian Costello 4. Shane Quinn 5. John Kennedy 6. John Culkin(0-01) 7. Seamus Pender 8. Aidan Moylan(1-1) 9. James Dunphy 10. Kieran Delaney (0-3)11. Brendan Timothy 12. Ronan Sheedy 13. Conor Delaney (1-0) 15. Dave Simms(0-07). Substitutes 16. Ray Duggan for 11. Timothy 18. Damien Fleming for 16. Duggan
Man of the Match: John Culkin (Galway)