The Leinster U21HC title belongs to Dublin for the first time in 25 years after they saw off Offaly in a pulsating tie at Parnell Park on Wednesday evening. Dublin 2-18 Offaly 3-9 The rise in hurling in the capital is there for all to see as the U21 crown joins the provincial minor title with the Sky Blues laying down their intentions for the future. An early opportunist goal from Ross O'Carroll in the fourth minute had the huge Dublin support in the 8,000 crowd in good cheer and it got better for the home side as they waltzed into a 1-10 to 0-4 lead with 25 minutes on the clock, thanks in part to the accuracy of Alan McCrabbe. Offaly had been sluggish up to that point but they kicked into life just before the break with a scoring burst of 2-2 to trail by the minimum at the short whistle. Goals from Alan Egan and Joe Bergin, with the later scoring a penalty, stunned Dublin and two quick Faithful points left the scoreboard reading 1-10 to 2-6 with 30 minutes played. Dublin stretched their lead on the restart but then Offaly took the lead for the first time when Derek Molloy goaled - meaning that a nine point deficit for the visitors had now been turned into a one point lead in little over ten minutes. Substitute John McCaffrey levelled the game for the Dubs but then Offaly seemed to make a crucial push as three points in a couple of minutes had them a goal clear, 3-9 to 1-12, with 18 minutes left on the clock. Amazingly that was to be the last scoring contribution from Offaly as Dublin bounced back in some style with six points in succession. McCrabbe, Durkin and Peader Carton were the scorers in chief during that vital stage but there were still some nervy moments with the game hanging in the balance with time nearly up. It was then that Carton struck for Dublin's second goal, much to the delight of the Parnell Park crowd, who greeted the score with as much delight as if it was the final whistle. Dublin - P Curtin; R Drumgoole, P Callaghan, D Webster; K Dunne, T Brady 0-1, M McGarry; J Boland, A McCrabbe 0-9; E Moran, D Connolly 0-1, S Lehane; P Carton 1-2, D O'Dwyer 0-1, R O'Carroll 1-0. Subs - J McCaffrey 0-1 for Lehane, S Durkin for Moran. Offaly - M Mulrooney; C Hernon, P Cleary, C Coughlan; D Kenny, B Leonard, B Watkins; S Ryan 0-1, C Mahon; C Slevin 0-3, D Molloy 1-0, D Horan 0-2; S Dooley 0-2, J Bergin 1-1, A Egan 1-0. Subs - M Verney for Coughlan, K Grogan for Leonard. Referee - S Whelan (Wexford). Tweet

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