Screeney heroics drags Offaly to dramatic Leinster win

A terrific individual display from Man of the Match Adam Screeney, a beaten All-Ireland minor finalist last year, elevated Offaly to a dramatic Leinster U-20 final success.

The Kilcormac-Killoughey man helped himself to 1-12 on the evening and his 42nd minute goal ultimately separated the sides in a nail biting encounter that went all the way in front of a capacity crowd in Carlow.

Screeney's heroics, having missed the semi-final following a knock in the win over Galway, helped Offaly to claim just their sixth provincial title at the grade and they will meet Cork in the All-Ireland final on May 27.

Faithful supporters flooded onto the pitch after the two-point success which was all the more impressive following captain Charlie Mitchell's 37th minute red card.

The sides were level five times in a frantic second-half and remained deadlocked entering stoppage time but late Offaly scores from Dan Ravenhill and Screeney tipped the balance their way.

It was a crushing defeat for Wexford who bounced back from early defeats in the Championship to Dublin and Galway by reaching the decider with a landmark semi-final defeat of Kilkenny.

Screeney, one of six players in the Offaly team that started last year's All-Ireland minor final loss to Tipperary, lit up an already entertaining opening half with several thrilling cameos.

One of six Kilcormac-Killoughey players on the team, free-taker Screeney struck seven points in the half though it was his two from play in the fourth and 30th minutes that drew gasps in the crowd.

For the first of those, Screeney somehow got a shot away despite the attentions of a couple of Wexford defenders on the right wing which split the posts.

The second was even more audacious as Screeney took on another two