Late long distance two-pointer free denies Kildare minors

A brilliant free from some 55m from 'keeper Jack Ryan earned Offaly a place in the Leinster MFC final at Tullamore this evening. It was a game that ebbed and flowed throughout but in the end any side that hits four goals is certainly worthy winners.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for Kildare who after a slow start went in at the break leading by three points. However two second half goals for Offaly broke Kildare hearts, with Ruairi Woods and Cian Duffy raising the vital green flags.

Offaly got off to a flyer with full forward Cian McNamee firing to the net after just five minutes and when the same player added a second goal on 20 the home side led 2-4 to 0-3.

Kildare gradually got a grip, particularly around the Offaly kick-out and a two-pointer from Hugh Martin quickly followed by a Pauric Carthy left just one point separating the sides. However Kildare kicked the next four points to go in at the break leading 0-10 to 2-4.

Kildare led by four on 41 minutes but when Woods found the net Offaly were back in and when Cian McNamee leveled on 50 minutes it was all to play for.

Callum Keaveny edged Kildare in front but Offaly hit back with goal no 4 from Cian Duffy.

Kildare battled back again and two points for Hugh Martin had them level again before that brilliant long-range free got Offaly over the line on a final score line of Offaly 4-9 Kildare 1-16.

Scorers: Offaly, Cian McNamee 2-1, Ruairi Woods 1-1, Cian Duffy 1-0, Aaron Daly 0-2, Jack Ryan 0-2 (2-pointer free), Dylan Dunne 0-1, Cathal Weldon 0-1, Tony Furey 0-1 (free).

Kildare, Pauric Carty 1-2 (1 two-pointer free), Hugh Martin 0-5 (1 two-pointer), Rory Thompson 0-3 (2 frees), Ollie Deller 0-2, Mark Travers 0-1, Niall McAndrew 0-1, Callum Keaveny 0-1, TJ Donoghue 0-1.

KILDARE: Jamie Wall (Round Towers); Dan Sargent (Eadestown), Niall McAndrew (Naas), Senan Gallagher (St Laurence's); Charlie Cullen (Elistown), Sean Gleeson (Round Towers), TJ Donoghue (Sarsfields); Calum Keaveney (Athy), Ollie Deller (Round Towers); Rian Curran (Raheens), Hugh Martin (Suncroft), Mark Travers, cpt (Naas); Pauric Carthy (Rathangan), Rory Thompson (Raheens), Charlie Doran (Clane). Subs: Cillian Long (Naas) for Rian Curran (23 minutes); Robbie Millham (Naas) for Callum Keaveny (55 minutes).

OFFALY: Jack Ryan; Caden O'Beirne, Tomas Carroll, Cormac Farrell; Patrick Duffy, Tadgh Kelly, Eoin Rouse; Eamon Maher, Charlie Duffy; Cathal Weldon, Dylan Dunne, Aaron Daly; Tony Furey, Cian McNamee cpt., Ruairi Woods. Subs: Cian Duffy for Tony Furey (44 minutes); Darragh Stewart for Aaron Daly (49 minutes); Eoghan Lyons (Clane) for Sean Gleeson (53 minutes); Turlough Donnelly (Kilcullen) for Ollie Deller (56 minutes); Isaac Ryan for Cathal Weldon (56 minutes); Stephen Byrne for Charlie Duffy (62 minutes).

REFEREE: Stephen Fagan.