Offaly hold off Roscommon fightback
OFFALY, who were much the better side for 50 minutes of this encounter, were forced to hold off a dramatic late comeback from Roscommon before registering their second win of the campaign in O'Connor Park.
Allianz GAA National Football League Division 3
Offaly 2-14
Roscommon 2-13
Tom Cribbin's side played extremely well in patches and had cruised into a 2-14 to 1-9 lead with ten minutes remaining.
That should have been that but a defenisve error from gifted Roscommon a path back into the game as Cathal Cregg found the back of the net to set up a nervous finish for the home side.
Four points followed in quick succesion for Roscommon as Offaly held on by their fingernails to the ever decreasing lead.
With the last kick of the game Roscommon had a chance to level matters and take a draw that their performance over the 70 minutes would not have deserved but luckily for Offaly, James Connaughton's shot drifted just wide.
Offaly should never have been hanging on at the end particularly considering their impressive attacking performance in the first-half.
At the end of a free scoring opening 35 minutes, Offaly held a six point advantage with a 2-11 to 1-8 lead.
By the eighth minute they were 1-3 to 0-1 ahead with the goal coming from the penalty spot from Niall McNamee after Ciaran McManus was dragged down as he bore down on goal.
A goal from John Rogers got Roscommon back into the game but Offaly hit the next four points to open a 1-7 to 1-1 lead.
Again the visitors rallied and thanks largely to the accurate free-taking of Donal Shine were back within one with half-time appraoching but a goal from John Reynolds and two Niall McNamee points saw Offaly restore a six point advantage at the break.
On the day 2-13 of Offaly's 2-14 came from their full-forward line with the resurgent Niall McNamee leading the way with a personal haul of 1-8.
Offaly's lead was gradually extended to 2-14 to 1-9 in a low scoring second-half before Roscommon's late fightback that fell just short as a very nervous Offaly just hung on
Elsewhere in Division 3, Antrim overcame Fermanagh with ease on Saturday night by 0-17 to 0-8 while there were also wins on Sunday for Wexford over Sligo (3-7 to 1-6) and Louth overcame Cavan (0-13 to 0-6)
See this Wednesday's Offaly Express for full report
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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