Battling Offaly win six pointer to get into promotion chase

LIVING on their wits but displaying real character and battling qualities, Offaly gained an absolutely crucial National Football League win in Longford's Pearse Park on Sunday

National Football League Division 3

Offaly 2-14

Longford 1-16

Having lost their last two games against Cavan and Westmeath, it was a real six pointer for Offaly with the stakes huge. The win should secure Offaly's Division 3 status as well as propelling them into the promotion chase with winnable games against Tipperary (away) and Down (at home) to come while a defeat would have plunged them into the relegation dogfight.

It could have went either way in an open, very entertaining game and Offaly just about deserved their win but it could very easily have went wrong for them. Longford missed two great goal chances in the second half and had a surplus of fairly shocking wides as they were left to reflect on what might have been. They had 12 wides in the second half and a good percentage of these could and perhaps should have been points – having said that, Longford's first half goal was a gift and Offaly played some very good football.

Offaly were much more clinical up front. They had extended periods when they had limited possession but they took most of their chances and held on for dear life for the win.

The sides were level at 1-9 each at half time and for much of the third quarter, Longford were the better side. They got 1-13 to 1-10 ahead and Offaly were hanging on by their fingertips. The winners had it back to a point and the game turned in the 54th minute when Dylan Farrell had a wide with a great goal chance for Longford, Offaly broke down the field at lightening pace and sub Jack Bryant got their all important second point.

Offaly turned the screw after this to get four points clear, 2-14 to 1-13 inside the last five minutes. It should have been enough but instead they lost their way as Longford got the next three points to bring it down to the minimum. With four minutes of added time, they had a chance of salvaging a draw or even a win. Dylan Farrell flashed another goal chance wide in the 73rd minute, from an acute angle and Offaly defended with great discipline not to concede fouls or to present a shooting chance for Longford.

It was a great win for Offaly and it lifts a lot of pressure on them. A third consecutive defeat would have really piled the pressure on and left them in serious relegation trouble. Instead they got the win they needed and they can now approach their remaining two games with optimism. They can also attack them with a degree of freedom – while the team and management want promotion, most supporters will be content with retaining Division 3 status and Offaly are now in bonus territory.

They worked so hard here with Anton Sullivan and Bernard Allen brilliant in their attack. Conor McNamee put in a great shift at midfield and Jack McEvoy had very good moments while the Offaly defence played with great honesty and diligence. They were not brilliant and had reason to be grateful to Longford's poor shooting. Longford didn't score from the 10th to the 33rd minute in the second half and some of their wides in this period were a major factor in them losing. It was Longford's best display of the league but it didn't get a result with Cian Donohue and David Dempsey doing particularly well in the Offaly defence.

The first half was a fairly open, entertaining affair with both sides breaking forward well and taking good scores. It was very much in the balance at half time with the sides tied at 1-9 each and this was a fair reflection of the way the first half went.

Offaly took an early initiative with a very well taken fourth minute goal from Bernard Allen putting them 1-1 to 0-1 ahead. They then handed Longford a gift with Ian Duffy misplacing a kickout moments later and Daniel Minagh guiding the ball into the empty net.

Longford were the better side for the next while. They led by 1-4 to 1-2 after nineteen minutes and then 1-6 to 1-4 after 22 minutes. Offaly hit a rich vein of form after this, playing their best football of the half. Bernard Allen, Nigel Dunne, Anton Sullivan and Jack McEvoy (a superbly won mark) kicked quality scores as they led by 1-8 to 1-6 after thirty minutes.

Longford got the next three to edge back in front and another lovely Bernard Allen point levelled it up at half time.

Peter Cunningham lost his way a bit at the start of the second half, just failing to cut out one ball and then getting bottled up in possession as Joseph Hagan and sub Oran Kenny got excellent points to give Longford a two point lead. Cunningham then picked up a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Michael Quinn, resulting in a free that David McGivney tipped over as Longford turned the screw – they also had three wides in this period and Cunningham recovered his composure after this to come out with good ball, lifting his team mates and defend well.

A fine Dylan Hyland point settled Offaly but as the heavens opened, they were just hanging on. They kunckled down and it was 1-13 to 1-11 after 47 minutes. A Hyland free made it a one point game and Offaly had a huge let off in the 54th minute when Dylan Farrell drove wide with the goal at his mercy. Offaly swept straight into attack and punished Longford to the hilt when sub Jack Bryant got a clinically taken goal to give them a 2-12 to 1-13 lead.

It was against the run of play but it changed the game. Bernard Allen and sub Cian Farrell got the next two points to put Offaly four points up inside the last five minutes with Longford kicking some dreadful wides. Offaly didn't score again as Longford kicked the final three points to bring it down to the minimum and a relieved visiting side held on for the win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Anton Sullivan (Offaly): A choice between Anton Sullivan and Bernard Allen. Allen displayed terrific opportunisnm with 1-3 from play but Sullivan is the choice. He went off injured late on but was immense before this as he took on defenders, scored two points and the quality of some of his passing, the imagination he displayed, took the breath away – he did carry the ball into challenge on a couple of occasions when he could have laid it off but he was a huge factor in Offaly's win.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Bernard Allen 1-3, Nigel Dunne 0-3 (f), Jack Bryant 1-0, Anton Sullivan and Dylan Hyland (1f) 0-2 each, Peter Cunningham, Jack McEvoy (mark), Cian Farrell and Jamie Evans 0-1 each.

Longford: David McGivney 0-6 (6f), Joseph Hagan 0-3, Daniel Minnagh 1-0, Dylan Farrell 0-2, Dessie Reynolds, Michael Quinn, Liam Connerton, Keelin McGann and Oran Kenny 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Ian Duffy (Walsh Island); Cian Donohue (St Brigid's), Declan Hogan (Tullamore), David Dempsey (Ballycommon); Rory Egan (Edenderry), Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Conor McNamee (Rhode); Jamie Evans (Gracefield), Ruari McNamee (Rhode), Nigel Dunne (Shamrocks); Cian Farrell (Edenderry), Anton Sullivan (Rhode), Dylan Hyland (Raheen). Subs – Joe Maher (Ferbane) for Evans (49m), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) for Dunne (49m), Bill Carroll (Cappincur) for McEvoy (57m), Cian Farrell (Edenderry) for Ruari McNamee (65m), Luke Egan (Tullamore) for Sullivan (68m),

LONGFORD: Patrick Collum; Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Barry O'Farrell; Iarla O'Sullivan, Michael Quinn, Ryan Moffet; David McGivney, Darren Gallagher; Joseph Hagan, Daniel Minagh, Dylan Farrell; Dessie Reynolds, Michael Quinn; Rian Brady, Dessie Reynolds, Robbie Smyth. Subs – Oran Kenny for Smyth (HT), Liam Connerton for Brady (57m), Keelin McGann for Reynolds (65m), Fergal Sheridan for McGivney (68m),

Referee – Sean Lonergan (Tipperary).

REFEREE WATCH

Sean Lonergan had a good game. He was consistent and there were no major talking points – though Dylan Hyland was fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card for Offaly before half time, after upending a Longford attacker with a heavy hit. The referee gave him the benefit of the doubt but Hyland could not have complained if he got yellow for that foul anyway.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The game turned with Jack Bryant's goal nineteen minutes into the second half. It came just after Dylan Farrell missed a great chance for Longford, gave Offaly a lead that they didn't deserved at that stage and was the spark for them to take over for a crucial few minutes.

VENUE WATCH

Longford hosted the game well with plenty of stewards. The €3 charge for the programme was too much. It was a very basic programme with no details about future fixtures or novelty articles and provided no value for money.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly travel to Thurles to play Tipperary on Saturday week while Longford are away to Down.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 5 (3 in first half); Longford – 15 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 3 (Dylan Hyland, Peter Cunningham and Conor McNamee); Longford 0- 0.

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0.