Faithful Forwards To The Fore In Interprovincial Victory
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Martin Donnelly (sponsor) pictured with Leinster manager Joe Dooley at the launch of the Interprovincial series in Croke Park last week. MT08300
Despite 11 Kilkenny men making the starting 15, Offaly duo Shane Dooley and Joe Bergin certainly left their mark on the Interprovincial hurling semi final at Nowlan Park on Sunday last where Leinster, managed by Joe Dooley, recorded a 3-14to 1-16 victory over their Munster colleagues.
Kilkenny made up the entire back line, both midfielders and three forwards as goals from Michael Fennelly, Richie Power (penalty) and Joe Bergin powered them on to a final meeting with Connacht on the 4th March.
Bergin lined up at full forward and rattled 1-1 for himself while Shane Dooley lined up beside him in the corner while registering 0-5 with four of them from play. Rory Hanniffy came of the bench for the closing ten minutes as Joe Dooley's men recorded a four point victory over a Munster team dominated by six Tipperary starters.
There has been much debate surrounding the future of the series and the estimated 1500 spectators in attendance were witness to a fantastic game of hurling that was far from a glorified challenge match. Leinster manager Joe Dooley believes there is a future in the series but only if the proper promotional and marketing work is put in to it.
"It's a pity this game wasn't televised live, every hurling man and woman in the country would have been watching it if it was. It's a disgrace. It was very competitive but I knew from early in the week that Leinster were up for it and I knew Liam Sheedy's Munster would be up for it as well. It wasn't going to be an exhibition game", explained the former All-Ireland winner with Offaly.
The team in full was: (Kilkenny unless stated) G Maguire (Dublin); P Murphy, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan (0-1), JJ Delaney; M Fennelly (1-0), M Rice; R O'Dwyer (Dublin), R Power (1-5, 1-0 pen & 0-3 frees), E Larkin (0-1); S Dooley (Offaly) (0-5, 0-1 free), J Bergin (Offaly) (1-1), R Hogan. Subs: W Hyland (Laois) for R Hogan (h-t), D Stamp (Wexford) for B Hogan (h-t), C Fennelly (0-1) for O'Dwyer (55), R Hanniffy (Offaly) for Bergin (61), R Jacob (Wexford) for Rice (70).
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