Substitutes to the fore as Offaly snatch last gasp winner to overcome Fermanagh

A POINT with virtually the last kick of the game by substitute Cian Farrell snatched a dramatic one point victory for Offaly over Fermanagh in a very tight Allianz National Football League Division 3 game at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday.

Allianz National Football League Division 3

OFFALY 1-9
FERMANAGH 1-8

But he wasn't the only substitute to make his mark on this game as prior to that Bernard Allen had come on after 42 minutes and proceeded to kick five points as Offaly maintained their 100% start to the league campaign while Fermanagh also had a sharpshooting sub with Garvan Jones kicking three points for them.

It was a very tight and tense game and for long stages had the look of a game that would end in a draw as the sides traded score for score. That certainly seemed to be the way in the last half minute of additional time when Offaly intercepted the ball in the middle of the field and it as transferred to Cian Farrell about 40m out and he dissected the posts, much to the joy of the Offaly supporters.

It was tough luck on Fermanagh who had fought valiantly throughout the game. They maintained possession well for long periods and defended stoutly but just when it looked as if they had done enough to earn a valuable away point, they lost the ball in the middle of the field and Offaly broke quickly to snatch the winning score.

The win leaves Offaly on four points, along with Cavan and Down, and leaves them in a position where they can now challenge for promotion. It was important for them to win a game in this manner as for a lot of the game they struggled to get into a rhythm and they kicked far too many wides. But winning tight games in difficult circumstances is a good habit and they will look to build on this for the rest of the campaign.

Much of the first half didn't look like two sides who had hopes of challenging for promotion. A lot of the play was cagey. Fermanagh kept the ball well for long periods but didn't create a whole lot with the possession they had.

Shot selection was poor on both sides and there were some very poor wides. Offaly finished that half with 10 wides while Fermanagh's tally increased in the latter part of the half and they reached the break with six wides. Both sides did improve somewhat in the second half but Offaly still finished with 14 wides while Fermanagh had nine.

Four scores in one half of football with 16 wides tells its own story and the spectators had little to keep them warm on a cold day in that half.

Luckily things improved in the second half, particularly in the last 20 minutes. The game opened up a bit more and legs tired creating a few more openings. Offaly did manage to get two points ahead breifly but other than that there was never more than a point between the sides with both teams taking the lead on occasion. In all they were level on seven occasions and it looked like they would finish that way until Cian Farrell stepped up for that last minute winner.

The game got off to a slow start with both sides sizing each other up in the early stages. Offaly hit a couple of early wides before they took the lead after seven minutes in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Jack McEvoy's '45' came back off a post and Ruairi McNamee was quickest to react in the crowded goalmouth to gather the ball and crash it to the net.

Fermanagh hit back quickly with a point from Ryan Jones but both sides missed chances after that. Fermanagh did have the ball in the net after 18 minutes when Josh Largo Ellis's effort was stopped by a combination of Ian Duffy and the post and although Largo Ellis forced the ball over the line, he fouled Ian Duffy in the process and a free out was awarded.

After 15 minutes without a score Offaly's Peter Cunningham soloed upfield and kicked a good point from 45m but two minutes later the sides were level. Fermanagh had a long patient build up, keeping possession for a long time. Ultan Kelm's shot fell short but as caught by Luke Flanagan, who lofted the ball back across the goalmouth and Josh Largo Ellis got his fist to it in front of Ian Duffy to finish the ball to the net. Both sides had chances to take the lead before half time but poor shooting was evident on both sides and it was 1-1 each at the break.

Offaly regained the lead five minutes after the restart with a Bill Carroll point but Sean Quigley levelled from a free. Five minutes after being introduced as a sub Bernard Allen got his first point and quickly added a second but Fermanagh were level two minutes later when Ultan Kelm kicked a point and Garvan Jones pointed from a mark. Anton Sullivan and Ryan Lyons quickly exchanged points before Garvan Jones put Fermanagh in front for the first time after 57 minutes. Bernard Allen quickly levelled before Ryan Jones and Allen exchanged further points. Garvan Jones put Fermanagh a point up again with five minutes left but Offaly responded with another Bernard Allen point. Four minutes of injury time were announced and while Sean Quigley dropped one effort short at one end, Offaly had two great chances but Jack Bryant kicked a close in free wide and Bernard Allen got on the end of another lovely move but kicked wide. Then in the final seconds Fermanagh were dispposessed in the middle of the field and Anton Sullivan picked out Cian Farrell and he kept his cool to kick the winning point.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Ian Duffy; Ciaran Donnelly, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey; Rory Egan, Peter Cunningham, Lee Pearson; Jack McEvoy, Conor McNamee; Joe Maher, Ruairi McNamee, Bill Caroll; Nigel Dunne, Anton Sullivn, Dylan Hyland. Subs. Bernard Allen (for Joe Maher, 42 mins), Cian Farrell (for Nigel Dunne, 55 mins), Jack Bryant (for Ruairi McNamee, 62 mins), Luke Egan (for Bill Carroll, 71 mins).

FERMANAGH: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Garrett Cavanagh, Cian McManus; Ronan McCaffey, Jonathan Cassidy, Shane McGullion; Ryan Jones, Darragh McGurn; Brandon Horan, Ryan Lyons, Josh Largo Ellis; Sean Cassidy, Ultan Kelm, Sean Quigley. Subs. Tommy McCaffrey (for Sean Cassidy, half time), Garvan Jones (for Darragh McGurn, 46 mins), Declan McCusker (for Garrett Cavanagh, 52 mins), Ciaran Corrigan (for Ultan Kelm, 62 mins).

REFEREE: Thomas Murphy (Galway)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Bernard Allen may only have come on the field after 42 minutes but he made the biggest impact on a tight game kicking five points from play after that. On a day when others were struggling to get into shooting positions, he was the only Offaly player to score more than once. He made good space for himself and was very effective as he helped Offaly to a vital win.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

No question here – Cian Farrell's point with the last kick of the game which earned the two points for Offaly in the most dramatic fashion.

REFEREE WATCH

Both sides may have expressed annoyance with Thomas Murphy on occasion but overall his interpretation of the rules were correct and he handled the game well. Possibly could have given one Offaly player a black card in the first half for what looked like a hand trip but on the whole he did a good job.

TALKING POINT

The standard of the first half left a lot to be desired. Two teams who had won their opening games knew a second win would put them in a good position for the remainder of the campaign and maybe that led to the cagey play in that half. The sides only managed four scores in that opening half but between them also hit 16 sides, which tells its own story of the first 35 minutes. Luckily things did improve as the game went on and it ended in a welter of excitement with that winning point for Offaly.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly are away to Westmeath on Sunday February 19th while Fermanagh host Down the same day.

VENUE WATCH

On a lovely sunny day, O'Connor Park looked in great condition and a nice sized crowd turned out on a bank holiday Sunday to enjoy the game.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly14 (10 in first half) Fermanagh 9 (6 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 1 (Joe Maher) Fermanagh 1 (Jonathan Cassidy)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Bernard Allen (0-5), Ruairi McNamee (1-0), Peter Cunningham, Bill Carroll, Anton Sullivan, Cian Farrell (0-1 each).

Fermanagh; Josh Largo Ellis (1-0), Garvan Jones (0-3, 0-1 mark), Ryan Jones (0-2), Sean Quigley (free), Ultan Kelm, Ryan Lyons (0-1 each).