Offaly improve in second half to secure final berth

THE manner of victory won't be worrying Offaly too much as they booked their place in the final of the Joe McDonagh Cup with an ultimately comfortable win over a very disappointing Kerry side in O'Connor Park on Sunday afternoon.

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4

Offaly 1-24

Kerry 0-16

The result was very much the bottom line for Offaly as they secured their final berth with a round to spare and a 100% record of four out of four wins. This win was not as impressive as the final scoreline suggests and Offaly's hurling was mediocre for most of the first half and a few minutes of the second half. However, when it got into the business end of affairs, Offaly's work rate was upped and this was accompanied by a marked rise in the efficiency and quality of their hurling.

They were assisted by a surprisingly poor display from Kerry, who missed a lot with Shane Conyway having a real off day from frees, missing a handful of fairly routine ones.

It was a niggly, messy game for extended periods with the referee Thomas Gleeson kept on his toes. Kerry were aiming for their fourth Joe McDonagh Cup final place in a row but now need to beat Laois next Saturday and hope that Offaly beat Carlow. That could happen but their performance here suggests that they are up against it.

Kerry have ran Offaly down to the wire in their last couple of clashes but they did not go well here. They set up defensively, pulling players back while they also seemed intent on ruffling Offaly's feathers, getting involved in a lot of stuff, both physically and verbally. The losers had seven yellow cards and could have got another couple at least.

Offaly's card count of five shows that they were no shrinking violets either and they certainly didn't turn a cheek to any Kerry transgressions. However, at least a couple of their yellow cards were for sloppy, lazy tackles rather than anything malicious and Offaly were more sinned against than sinners. Having said that, they did contribute to a game that made very unsatisfactory viewing for 40 minutes or so with flare ups never far away.

It was a much more cynical than violent game and when it came down to hurling, Offaly were clearly the better team. They played very well in the last half an hour or so, playing some good hurling and had the game in the bag well before the end.

They will play Kerry, Laois or Carlow in the final and it means that next Saturday's closing round is a dead rubber for them. Their defence was excellent here with the whole full back line of Dara Maher, Ciaran Burke and Ben Conneely on the top of their game. Maher's performance is worth highlighting as it was the Shinrone man's first start and he was so competent and composed in what he did as well as making some crucial interceptions.

Jason Sampson was left as a spare man in front of the full back line and mopped up a huge amount of ball. He sent a lot of good ball into the attack but also made some tremendous blocks to deny Kerry goals that could have changed the game. David King's ability to do the simple thing well and without fuss eventually inspired his younger team mates to do the same.

From here up, Offaly were not as good. 1-24 was a decent tally but it was patchy and inconsistent. Eoghan Cahill once again scored very well with thirteen points, two from play, but also missed a couple of straightforward frees. Brian Duignan had a great purple patch during the second half but it didn't quite happen for him outside of this while Adrian Cleary and Cillian Kiely had very good spells - the two points that Duignan got in the 42nd minute were superb and absolutely crucial, showing what he is capable of.

Paddy Delaney and Jack Clancy had a mixed hour at midfield. Clancy worked very hard but his striking was not clinical and he missed a couple of good chances. Delaney got back to make one great tackle to keep Kerry out and had some good moments but he gave away way too many frees, most sloppy and some of which were pointed – and this was probably the reason he was the first man called ashore, after 44 minutes.

It looked like it could be one of those days for Offaly in the first half. Their work rate and intensity levels were not quite right and the direct consequence of this was a lot of mistakes. It was quite frustrating to watch. The sides were level twice in the opening eight minutes. Kerry then got two clear and it was 0-5 each after 18 minutes.

Offaly got a crucial goal in the 19th minute with both David Nally and Charlie Mitchell doing very well. Nally finished well, opting to pull on the ball to the net after Mitchell's centre - but full credit to the Kilcormac-Killoughey man who was quiet but earned his keep in that move as he cut in from the left, resisted the temptation to go for goal himself and showed great awareness.

Offaly were 1-9 to 0-6 ahead after 28 minutes, almost inspite of themselves but their error count increased again coming up to half time and allowed Kerry to reduce the deficit to 1-10 to 0-10 at the break.

Offaly looked vulnerable at this stage but they were considerably better in the second half. They continued to make mistakes for a while but gradually found their form. Kerry stayed alive for a while. They were 1-11 to 0-12 behind after 41 minutes, 1-13 to 0-13 after 43 but then Offaly found their best form.

Upping the ante all over the field, they went on a rampage, scoring seven points without reply from the 48th to 57th minutes. With a 1-20 to 0-13 lead for Offaly, the game was over and Kerry knew it. Shane Conway missed a few late frees but they wouldn't have saved them, though scoring difference could come into the equation yet.

Offaly were able to cruise through the last fifteen minutes plus as it ended up a very good win for them.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jason Sampson (Offaly): All of Offaly's contenders were in defence and David King, Ciaran Burke and Ben Conneely all had strong claims. The choice is Jason Sampson. He may have been left on his own in front of Ciaran Burke and this allowed him to get on a lot of handy ball. However, he also did a lot of very good defensive work. He got one sensational first half point, brilliantly dispossessing Eoin Ross, racing up field and firing the ball over the bar after an interchange of passes. He also made a tremendous block in the 63rd minute to deny Eoin Ross, who looked certain to goal. A goal would have reduced arrears to six points and ensured a nervous closing few minutes.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 0-13 (9f and 2 '65's), David Nally 1-1 (1 sideline), Adrian Cleary and Brian Duignan 0-2 each, Jason Sampson, Killian Sampson, Cillian Kiely, Jack Clancy, Eimhin Kelly and Joey Keenaghan 0-1 each.

Kerry: Shane Conway 0-7 (5f and 1 '65'), Padrag Boyle 0-3 (2f), Gavin Dooley 0-2, Eoin Ross, Fionan McKessy, Jason Diggins, Michael Leane 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Stephen Corcoran (Coolderry); Dara Maher (Shinrone), Ciaran Burke (Durrow), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's); David King (Coolderry), Jason Sampson (Shinrone), Killian Sampson (Shinrone); Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty), Jack Clancy (Belmont); Cillian Kiely (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Adrian Cleary (Shinrone); David Nally (Belmont), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Eoghan Cahill (Birr). Subs – Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh) for Delaney (44m), Joey Keenaghan (0-1) for Kiely, inj. (57m), John Murphy (Ballinamere) for Cahill (68m), Shane Dooley (Tullamore) for Mitchell (68m), Liam Langton (Clodiagh Gaels) for Cleary (70m).

KERRY: Louis Dee; Evan Murphy, Darragh Shanahan, Eric Leen; Eoin Ross, Jason Diggins, Michael Leane; Fionán Mackessy, Paudie O’Connor; Kyle O’Connor, Colin Walsh, Shane Conway; Pádraig Boyle, Brandon Barrett, Gavin Dooley. Subs – Jordan Conway for Barrett (HT), Mickey Boyle for Shanahan (HT), Dan Goggin for Dooley (44m), Niall Mulcahy for Diggins (51m), Keith Carmody for O'Connor (63m).

Referee – Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).

REFEREE WATCH

Thomas Gleeson was a very busy man with a lot going on. There was a real niggle to the game and he would have needed eyes in the back of his head to keep on top of everything. He clearly wanted to do the right thing and be fair but, having said that, there were plenty of soft frees and he had a mixed afternoon. These favoured Kerry at times but Offaly also got a few – Eoghan Cahill got one from a very questionable first half free while David Nally's sideline should have been a Kerry ball.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

David Nally's first half goal was crucial as it gave Offaly the initiative at a stage when they just weren't playing well.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was in great shape and it was easy host the small crowd.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly are away to Carlow next Saturday while Kerry host Laois.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 10 (4 in first half); Kerry – 15 (7 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 5 (Jason Sampson, Adrian Cleary, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan, Eoghan Cahill); Kerry – 6 (Evan Murphy, Jason Diggins, Kyle O'Connor, Michael Leane, Jordan Conway, Mickey Boyle).

Red cards: 0.