Historic first win in Belfast sets Offaly up very nicely for productive campaign

A WIN over Antrim does not represent anything seismic happening in Offaly football but it still represented a historic, crucial, morale boosting one as the visitors took both points in Belfast's Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon.

Allianz National Football League Division 3

Offaly 2-12
Antrim 0-12

It was a historic first league win for Offaly in Belfast – a city where they have endured a handful of truly black days, only scoring 5, 6 and 2 points in a few shoocking performances from the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s.

It was a crucially important win for Offaly and while it is very early day, it sets them up very nicely for their National Football League Division 3 campaign. They achieved it with a very good, if not faultless display, as they were the better side overall and effectively won it in the first half.

With a strong swirling wind on their back in the first half, Offaly looked very fit as they controlled almost every aspect of the game and they were full value for their 1-8 to 0-4 half time lead.

They did lose their way in the second half and lived very dangerously at times. They had goalkeeper Ian Duffy to thank for preserving their lead as he made a couple of super saves and handled an abundance of dangerous, high ball very well. They were surviving on their wits as the game crept into injury time and were fortunate that Antrim had a few very bad wides. With Offaly's error count creeping dangerously high and they giving away the ball too cheaply, it could have went very wrong for them and for a few minutes, it looked like they could let it slip.

Instead, an intuitively flicked goal from Bernard Allen a minute into injury time knocked the resistance out of Antrim and gave Offaly the cushion they needed for the remaining four minutes. The win was not as comprehensive as the final scoreline suggests but Offaly were still the better side on the day and it was an encouraging display.

Their fitness levels were particularly noteworthy and it is clear that they have a lot of work done on the training fields. It is a while since an Offaly team has been this fit this early in the season and they ran Antrim to the bone in the first half. Tiredness may have been a factor in the worrying volume of errors in the second half but this was because every player had emptied the tank.

Once again, Offaly's work rate was terrific and they moved the ball at pace with plenty of support for the man in possession. They were excellent in the first half as they moved the ball around very efficiently and Antrim couldn't build any momentum.

Offaly had settled quickly with fine scores from Joe Maher and the superb Dylan Hyland. They were 0-3 to 0-2 ahead after twelve minutes but ripped Antrim apart for the next while, scoring 1-5 without reply for a 1-8 to 0-2 lead. The goal was a brilliantly finished ground stroke by Ruari McNamee in the 24th minute after a great Peter Cunningham burst forward. Antrim got the two closing points, one of them looking suspiciously wide but a 1-8 to 0-4 half time lead still represented a very satisfactory first half work for Offaly.

Offaly did not look like they would be in any danger in the third quarter. They defended very well and continued to attack with menace. Every time, Antrim scored, Offaly were able to respond and it was 1-11 to 0-6 with fifteen minutes left.

Ian Duffy had made a super 42nd minute save to deny Ruari McCann and Offaly were in full control as it entered the closing quarter. It almost unravelle for them as Antrim went on a spree that yielded four points without reply to bring it back to a goal as injury time approached.

The home side should have been closer. Duffy made another fantastic save, this time from Odhran Eastwood with 69 minutes gone and a minue later Rory Egan got back to make a sensational goal line save to deny Patrick Finnegan. Antrim also wasted a few point chances and they could very easily have been level or ahead near the end. Instead, Offaly finally lifted the siege and Allen's goal, followed by an exchange of points between Conor Stewart and Anton Sullivan gave them a great win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dylan Hyland (Offaly): Ian Duffy was a real contender with two absolutely crucial saves while some of his accurate kickouts took the breath away – he was also off target with a couple of placed ones. Peter Cunningham and Anton Sullivan were pivotal to Offaly's win with Sullivan particularly influential, though both players were responsible for some of the mistakes and turned over ball that helped heap the pressure on late on. Declan Hogan never put a foot wrong in full back and there were plenty of other players who had excellent spells. The choice is Dylan Hyland. The Raheen man is developing into a really important player for Offaly and he once again stood up to be counted. He was superb in the first half, at the centre of a lot of the good stuff Offaly produced as he scored four points, two from play. He was not as prominent in the second half and he tired a bit but his work rate in a defensive role out around the middle was crucial. He put his body on the line, hit anything that moved and ensured that Antrim had to work hard to break the line.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Ruari McNamee 1-1, Dylan Hyland 0-4 (2f), Bernard Allen 1-0, Anton Sullivan 0-3, Nigel Dunne 0-2 (2f), Peter Cunningham and Joe Maher 0-1 each.

Antrim: Ryan Murray 0-3 (3f), Ruari McCann (Creggan) and Dominic McEnhill 0-2 each, James McAuley, Patrick McBride, Conor Stewart, Pat Shivers, Ruari McCann 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Ian Duffy (Walsh Island); Cian Donohoe (St Brigid's), Declan Hogan (Tullamore), David Dempsey (Ballycommon); Rory Egan (Edenderry), Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Conor McNamee (Rhode); Joe Maher (Ferbane), Ruari McNamee (Rhode), Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks); Nigel Dunne (Shamrocks), Anton Sullivan (Rhoe), Dylan Hyland (Raheen). Subs – Bernard Allen (Tubber) for O'Toole-Greene (HT), Cian Farrell (Edenderry) for Dunne (47m), Luke Egan (Tullamore) for Maher (61m), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) for Hyland (71m), Aaron Brazil (Shannonbridge) for Donohoe (73m).

ANTRIM: Michael Byrne; Peter Healy, Declan Lynch, James McAuley; Dermot McAleese, Joseph Finnegan, Marc Jordan; Jack Dowling, Conor Stewart; Patrick McBride), Ryan Murray, Colum Duffin; Pat Shivers, Ruari McCann, Dominic McEnhill. Subs – Kevin Small for Dowling (HT), Ruari McCann (Creggan) for McEnhill (HT), Patrick Finnegan for Duffin (48m), Odhran Eastwood for Ruari McCann (57m), Paraig Mervyn for Finnegan (64m).

Referee – Conor Dourneen (Cavan).

REFEREE WATCH

Conor Dourneen had a very good, solid game and was not a factor.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ian Duffy's second half saves were absolutely crucial and had one of them found the net, Offaly could have suffered a devastating defeat.

VENUE WATCH

Corrigan Park is an lovely, traditional venue. There was a large crowd here and Offaly had a big support with a mixture of day trippers and over nighters. Antrim could not have been more gracious, welcoming host and the visitors enjoyed the bit of traditional, rebel music played over the loud speakers. Antrim have received planning permission for a major redevelopment of Casement Park, a 30,000 stadium and work will begin when the executive is back up and running and funding can be drawn down. Corrigan Park, however, is a perfect venue for these smaller type fixtures and Offaly enjoyed the whole experience here.

TALKING POINT

It is early days but there was something very encouraging about the way Offaly went about their business here. They were better than many expected and it suggests they can challenge for promotion.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly are at home to Fermanagh next Sunday.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 8 (4 in first half); Antrim – 12 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly -3 (Declan Hogan, Peter Cunningham and Anton Sullivan); Antrim – 3 (Marc Jordan, Patrick McBride, Padraig Shivers).