Galway reach first ever Leinster Final

Portlaoise Galway 3-17 Offaly 2-18

Pre match favourites Galway were made work hard by a spirited Offaly as they booked their place in the first Leinster SHC final following a 3-17 to 2-18 at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday evening.

Once again Galway started brightly but Offaly came back strong and it looked set for this match to end in another draw, but fantastic points by Joe Canning and Ger Farragher edged the Tribesmen through Offaly went into this match without the injured Derek Molloy and the suspended Daniel Currams.

Galway started well into a stiff wind and after five minutes it was 0-2 to 0-0 as Andy Smith and Damien Hayes pointed for Galway as they looked to put an early stamp on the game. There was no surprise when it was Shane Dooley got Offaly's first score after eight minutes when he pointed a free. It was 0-3 to 0-1 shortly after as corner forward Iarla Tannian pointed from open play before Ger Farragher opened his account from a close range free. Then after 12 minutes a surging run by Hayes resulted in the Galway forward shooting a brilliant goal make it 1-4 to 0-1 against the wind.

Shane Dooley responded with his first point from play as Offaly needed to make use of the strong wind, but it was Galway who were motoring the stronger at this stage and Aonghus Callanan extended the Tribesmen's lead as he was left unmarked to point.After 26 minutes it was 1-7 to 0-3 before Galway hit their second goal when Ollie Canning send in a long ball which was gathered by Joe Canning who turned David Franks and fired to the back of the net. With Damien Hayes causing big trouble at full forward, Offaly moved David Kenny out to centre back. Further points from Tannion and Hayes were cancelled out with points by Dooley, Carroll and David Kenny to leave the score at half time 2-9 to 0-7 in favour of Galway.

Offaly hit two points at the start of the second half with sub Ger Healion and Joe Bergin hitting the second, a fine effort, but Galway were matching them in all areas as Farragher and Hayes scored for the Connacht side, who now had wind advantage.Healion scored a goal and this was followed by a Dooley free to make it 2-11 to 1-10 just eight minutes into the second half and Offaly were right back into the contest. Donal Barry responded with a point for Galway to settle them and keep five points between the sides.

 Nonetheless, Carroll set up Brendan Murphy to make it 2-12 to 1-11 and it was all to play for as the Faithful County gave their supporters something to shout about.Dooley hit two points before Joe Canning scored a point and this was followed by Damien Hayes' second goal of the match to put six points between the sides. Murphy then hit his second of the afternoon to make it 3-13 to 1-14 after 50 minutes. David Burke was shown a red card to reduce Galway to 14 men and then three unanswered points by Offaly was followed by a Bergin goal. Then Dooley and Farragher exchanged points to level at 2-17 to 3-14 with six minutes remaining and Galway were being asked serious questions.

Farragher converted yet another free to move ahead with three minutes left of normal time and then for the third time this year Dooley equalised for Offaly. But, Galway answered the call and Joe Canning took a Ger Farragher pass before shooting a superb point with 30 seconds remaining before Farragher put two points between the sides with a massive free from the last puck of the game to leave the score at 3-17 to 2-18 at the final whistle, and thus Galway had reached their first ever Leinster Final.

Galway - C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry (0-1), T Og Regan, J Lee; G Farragher (0-7, 5f), D Burke; E Ryan, A Callanan (0-1), A Smith (0-1); J Canning (1-2), D Hayes (2-3), I Tannian (0-2). Subs - N Healy for Ryan, J Gantley for Healy, A Cullinane for Smith.

Offaly - J Dempsey; D Franks, D Kenny (0-01), S Egan; J Rigney, P Cleary, D Morkan; K Brady, D Hayden; B Carroll (0-3), J Brady, R Hanniffy; S Dooley (0-10, 6f, 2'65), J Bergin (1-1), B Murphy (0-2). Subs - G Healion (1-1) for Franks, M Verney for Egan, C Parlon for Kenny, O Kealy for K Brady.

Ref - C McAllister ( Cork).