Offaly suffers shock from Christy Ring Cup elimination as Down wins on penalties

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Down 2-20 Offaly 1-23 (Down wins 3-2 in pens)

Offaly will remain in the third hurling tier in 2021 after a penalty shootout loss to Down at Newry.

Down goalkeeper Stephen Keith saved two penalties and scored the winning goal to seal a 3-2 win on penalty shoot-outs after Offaly converted his first two for a 2-0 lead.

In an all-ages shock, Down got off to a quick start with a goal from Eoghan Sands in two minutes, though Offaly’s Shane Kinsella scored five minutes later to put Michael Fennelly’s team ahead, 1-3 to 1-1.

A trio of points put Down ahead by one in the first half of the break, though Offaly edged him from there until the break, 1-9 to 1-8 ahead.

Offaly’s top scorer, Eoghan Cahill, hit the post with a penalty in the second half, though his team defended a narrow lead for much of the half until Barry Trainor’s last draw, 1-16 apiece, when the teams They went into extra time.

Offaly managed a one-point lead in the first 10-minute period, 1-20 to 1-19 up, but a Daithí Sands goal put them at a disadvantage at the restart.

Offaly’s Liam Langton took the game to penalties by leveling the game for the 13th time later.

Down will face Kildare in the final after they defeated Roscommon, 3-24 to 1-9.



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