Bergin seals glory for Offaly
Offaly 0-22 DIT 1-14 (After extra-time)
A 16-point return from star forward Joe Bergin steered Offaly to retain the title in Tullamore.
With captain David Kenny leading by example, Offaly held the gallant students to only two points in extra-time, pulling away with scores from Bergin and Brendan Murphy.
It was a scrappy encounter in heavy conditions but sharp-shooters David Tracey (DIT) and Bergin led the way with some superb scores.
A Paudge Phelan goal in the first half had kept DIT on the front foot. However, a typical Offaly comeback fronted by the exploits of Bergin brought the game to extra-time, with Bergin's free in the 70th minute leaving them deadlocked at 0-15 to 1-12.
Scorers -- Offaly: J Bergin 0-16 (8f, 1 '65), D Mooney, B Murphy 0-2 each, M Verney, J Rigney 0-1 each. DIT: D Tracey 0-8f, P Phelan 1-1, A McInerney 0-2, N Quinn, D Curran ('65'), M Maloney 0-1 each.
Offaly -- E Kelly; B Watkins, D Kenny, S Wynne; B Harding, C McDonald, B Mulrooney; M Verney, C Mahon; C Egan, D Molloy, M Morkan; B Murphy, J Bergin, D Mooney. Subs: J Rigney for Mahon (h-t), T Carroll for Mulrooney (50), G Healion for Molloy (58), R Hanniffy for McDonald (80), S Ryan for Carroll (80).
DIT -- F McGarry; L Prendergast, O Walsh, D English; D Curran, P Hartley, J Diviney; J Mulrooney, C O'Shaughnessy; P Morris, M Maloney, A McInerney; N Quinn, D Tracey, P Phelan. Subs: P Kenny for Morris (51), J McManus for Phelan (56), P Elliot for O'Shaughnessy (60), B Campion for Mulrooney (64), P Morris for Elliot (80), J Mulrooney for McManus (81).
Ref -- A Stapleton (Laois)
Irish Independent
