Adam Screeney stars as Offaly defeat Dublin to defend Leinster Under-20 crown

Offaly secured back-to-back Leinster Under-20 hurling titles with a hard fought three-point victory over Dublin in front of a huge crowd in Portlaoise.

The majestic Adam Screeney was a joy to watch for the thousands of fans packed into Portlaoise, with his nine-point tally steering Offaly to a deserved victory before a stampede of joyous kids in the Offaly colours swarmed onto the pitch to congratulate their heroes.

It was Dublin who settled into the game the quickest after a frantic start, taking the first two scores of the game, with Brendan Kenny and Diarmaid O’Dulaing influencing strongly throughout the opening period.

Shane Rigney had the ball in the back of the net for Offaly on 20 minutes, but from that point Offaly’s confidence only grew and grew, with Screeney pulling the strings for the Faithful County.

Despite both sides battling hard, it was Offaly who found their scores easier to come by, with Dublin going 12 minutes without a score before a Neil Hogan point on the stroke of half-time got them moving again. Offaly led by just two at the break.

A combination of a missed Dublin penalty and Screeney on the Offaly frees was the narrative of the second half as Offaly took control of the game.

A late goal for Dublin courtesy of Conn Rock was too little too late for the Boys in Blue, as a spread of six different second-half scorers for Offaly saw them crowned provincial champions for 2024.

The match began at a ferocious pace from both sides, with the heavy hits coming thick and fast. It took five minutes for the first score and it came courtesy of Brendan Kenny for Dublin. The roving right half-back capitalised from midfield, collecting a ball from Fionn Murphy before pointing between the posts.

With the deadlock broken