A great result for the Faithful county.
A last minute Cian Johnson point ensured Offaly shared the spoils with Dublin’s second string in their O’Byrne Cup clash in Parnell Park on Wednesday evening.
18-year-old Johnson sparkled again for the away side, scoring six points, and he is quickly making a reputation for himself as one of the brightest young talents in the country.
Super six from Cian Johnson levels matters
Offaly 0-16
Dublin 1-13— Mary Dunne (@maryballyfore) January 3, 2018
Bizarrely, the Ferbane club man has now represented his county’s senior side twice, with his debut coming against Wexford last week, despite not playing for his club’s adult team.
Plenty of examples of this over the years I would say. Cian Johnson, 18yo Leaving Cert student, started for Offaly against Wexford last Saturday v Wexford and will start v Dublin tonight. Yet to start a SFC game for his club Ferbane.
— Pat Nolan (@pat_nolan) January 3, 2018
Johnson wasn’t the only youngster to show well on a blustery night in Donnycarney.
Paul Clarke took over the sideline duties for the reigning All-Ireland champions, with Jim Gavin and his team currently on holiday.
Clarke named a side that included five of last year’s All-Ireland under-21 winners in Sean McMahon, Glenn O’Reilly Chris Sallier, Brian Howard and Colm Basquel.
Here is the Dublin Senior footballers' starting XV for their O'Byrne Cup clash with @Offaly_GAA tomorrow in Parnell Park! #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/nSCHqiC8mN
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) January 2, 2018
The home side flew out of the blocks, with a well worked Colm Basquel goal giving them the perfect start.
Indeed, by all accounts, the half forward was the best player on show for the Sky Blues, and he ended his evening with a creditable 1-6, 1-3 of which came from open play.
Both @S_Carthy8 of @naomhmearnog & Colm Basquel of @Bodengaa central to everything that was good about the Dubs in the 1st half.
The Dubs will play with the aid of a strong breeze for the next 35mins 💨#OByrneCup #Allianz #Gaa RT pic.twitter.com/js2Z1nnh3z
— 𝘿𝙪𝙗𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@DubMatchTracker) January 3, 2018
It looked for all the world as if Dublin would take this one, holding a three point lead with only five minutes left to play. To Offaly’s credit, though, they stayed plucking away and scored the last three points of the game to level it up.
It ended up 1-13 to 1-16.
Up next for Dublin is a trip to Wexford.
It's a draw at full time for our Footballers against @Offaly_GAA. They return to action again on Sunday away against @OfficialWexGAA! #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/5VX5eKHjrx
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) January 3, 2018
Here’s the rest of the results from the Bord Na Móna O’Byrne Cup games, with Kildare defeating Louth and Meath toppling Carlow.
TONIGHT'S FOOTBALL FULL TIME SCORES@BordnaMona #OByrneCup – Rd 2@DubGAAOfficial 1-13, @Offaly_GAA 0-16, @KildareGAA 0-9, @louthgaa 2-11, @Carlow_GAA 0-7, @MeathGAA 0-9 pic.twitter.com/zrEQj9u6ab
— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) January 3, 2018
Meanwhile, in the Connacht FBD League, Roscommon trounced Leitrim, while Galway defeated Sligo by four points on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-11.
#rosgaa #gaa #fbd
Full time
Roscommon : 2-14(20)
Leitrim: 1-3(6) pic.twitter.com/CSHJVffob4— Roscommon GAA (@RoscommonGAA) January 3, 2018
In Ulster’s McKenna Cup, the wins went the way of Fermanagh, Armagh, Donegal, Derry and Tyrone.
Fermanagh’s victory over Monaghan was, perhaps, the shock result of the night.
RESULT: @BankofIrelandUK Dr McKenna Cup Round 1 –@TyroneGAALive 4-20 @AontroimGAA 2-11 #BOIMcKennaCup
— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) January 3, 2018
RESULT: @BankofIrelandUK Dr McKenna Cup Round 1 – @FermanaghGAA 2-11 v @monaghangaa 0-12 #BOIMcKennaCup
— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) January 3, 2018
RESULT: @BankofIrelandUK Dr McKenna Cup Round 1 – @officialdonegal 2-15 v @QueensGAA 0-06 #BOIMcKennaCup
— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) January 3, 2018
RESULT: @BankofIrelandUK Dr McKenna Cup Round 1 –@OfficialDownGAA 0-13 @Armagh_GAA 2-12 #BOIMcKennaCup
— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) January 3, 2018
RESULT: @BankofIrelandUK Dr McKenna Cup Round 1 – @Doiregaa 2-14 v @UlsterUniGAA 3-10 #BOIMcKennaCup
— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) January 3, 2018
