Offaly 3-19 Limerick 0-18

Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Limerick crashed out of the 2008 Championship as rejuvenated Offaly pulled off a sensational 10-point victory at the Gaelic Grounds.

This was supposed to be the appetiser ahead of Sunday's Munster hurling final at the same venue, but Offaly produced a veritable feast with a return to some traditional values of hooking, flicking and blocking.

Joe Bergin was the goal hero with a hat-trick of majors, two within the opening 20 minutes which helped Offaly to a 2-11 to 0-6 half-time advantage.

Limerick were booed off at the break but returned re-energised immediately after half-time.

Offaly nerves jangled as Brian Carroll missed a couple of frees and Limerick reeled off four unanswered points to reduce the gap to seven points.

But when Limerick captain Mark Foley turned three times on his own endline and coughed up a 20-metre free, six-point hero Shane Dooley, son of manager Joe, duly obliged.

And remarkably, with 20 minutes remaining, Bergin flicked home a sideline cut from dynamic midfielder Rory Hanniffy to wipe out Limerick's good start to the half.

The wind was knocked completely out of Limerick's sails and with a quarter of an hour remaining, home supporters were heading for the exits.

It was surreal stuff as Offaly recorded a first Championship victory of real substance since defeating the same opposition in 2003.

In terms of significance though, this victory must rank as the Faithful County's most outstanding Championship success since the All-Ireland final semi-final defeat of Cork in 2000.

Nobody really saw it coming as Offaly had been on the receiving end of an 18-point whipping against Kilkenny in the Leinster Championship just four weeks ago.

Limerick, in contrast, had been expected to bounce back following their Munster defeat against Clare, especially with centre half-back Brian Geary returning to bolster a defence which leaked four goals against the Banner County.

Bergin was in the mood to punish and suspect Limerick defending and he found the net after 15 minutes after captain Kevin Brady's lengthy delivery bobbled free just 10 metres from goal.

Bergin's second goal, five minutes later, was a goal of much higher quality as the Seir Kieran colossus gained possession 40 metres from goal, bustled past three defenders and cracked a rising drive past Brian Murray.

Limerick: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, S Hickey; M O'Riordan, B Geary (0-01, 65), M Foley (0-01); D O'Grady, W McNamara (0-01); M O'Brien, O Moran, N Moran (0-03); A O'Shaughnessy (0-04, 1f), S O'Connor, D Ryan (0-01).

Subs: D Moloney (for O'Connor 28 mins), D Sheehan (0-01) (for Ryan h-t), P Tobin (0-05) (for O'Brien h/t), D Cosgrave (for Lucey 59), K Tobin (0-01) (for N Moran 64).

Offaly: B Mullins; D Franks, D Kenny, M Verney; K Brady, G Oakley, D Horan (0-01, 65); B Murphy (0-01), G Hanniffy; S Dooley (0-06, 1f), J Brady, D Molloy (0-02); B Carroll (0-06, 1f, 1 65), J Bergin (3-02), D Currams (0-01).

Subs: J Rigney (for Horan 64 mins), D Hayden (for Currams 66), C Mahon (for Murphy 70+2).

Referee: C McAllister (Cork).