Battling Offaly show terrific desire to secure knockout berth

WITH both sides having lost their first round game, it was no surprise that Laois and Offaly served up a very tightly contested, high stakes Leinster Minor Football Championship derby in Portlaoise on Wednesday evening. And for the second night in a row, an Offaly football team won thanks to a terrific work ethic and desire.

Leinster Minor Football Championship Group 1 Round 2

Offaly 2-8

Laois 0-10

It was another backs to the wall win for Offaly and the win keeps their season very much alive.The last round takes place on Saturday, April 13 with Offaly away to Dublin and Longford hosting Laois.With three qualifying from the group, Offaly are assured of qualification to at least a preliminary quarter-final. Laois have lost to both Offaly and Dublin and this means that even if they shock a flying Longford, they will lose out to the losers of the Offaly v Dublin game on the head to head rule

Like the U-20s against Kildare on Tuesday evening, this win is a season changing one. This was a very honest display and Offaly also produced some very composed, competent and confident football on the day.

It was far from a flawless performance and their error count was a bit high but even when they made mistakes, they worked hard to rectify them. The result was a fully deserved win and Laois forwards misfired when the pressure was on in the second half.

1-3 to 0-5 ahead after playing against the wind in the first half, it was set up for Offaly to win and they finished strongly to achieve that. They had to dig deep and show character after Laois got three of the first four second half points to lead by 0-8 to 1-4 after 46 minutes.

Offaly's response in the closing quarter was very impressive. They continued to try and do the right thing and it paid off. Lee Moore levelled it up, Cian McNamee put them ahead with a 50^th minute free and their second goal four minutes later sealed it – sub Dylan Dunne finished very well after Cian McNamee set him up following very good Charlie Burns work. Dunne was just seconds on the field and McNamee added a super point to put Offaly 2-7 to 0-8 ahead.

It was theirs to lose and Laois never looked like salvaging it. They got two of the last three points with Offaly's final score from another sub, Senan Hanniffy but a few bad wides ensured Offaly always had more than a score to spare in the closing minutes.

No one will be getting excited about the prospects of this team and they have obvious limitations but they are into the knock out stages and that is a great boost. They have the capacity to improve, their confidence will grow and they have time to get in some quality work.

They were so honest in everything they did here with Conor Egan thriving in a sweeping role and the defence hunting in packs and playing very well as a unit. Even when they made errors, the guilty party tried to win it back and team mates rallied to support him. Charlie Burns was outstanding in midfield and Cian McNamee was the standout player in an attack where Mark Bryant also had excellent spells.

They gave themselves a great chance when they led at half time by 1-3 to 0-5 after playing against the wind. They started well and took the lead with a lovely Mark Bryant point. Laois got the next three to lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after 13 minutes. Offaly got back on terms with a Cian McNamee free and a second beauty from Mucklagh man Bryant.

The excellent Ultan Dunne -a son of former Gracefield stalwart Adrian Dunne and a nephew of Offaly great, Padraig Dunne - put Laois two clear with a very good mark and a point from play. The decisive score of the first half was a very fortunate one for Offaly as Cian McNamee lost concentration with a tap over free from 14 metres and under hit it. However, he grabbed the rebound and did well to dance through a very sloppy Laois defence for a goal to give Offaly that half time lead.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Charlie Burns (Offaly): There is a temptation to go for Cian McNamee whose 1-4, 1-2 from play was crucial. The Rhode man played very well but the choice is Charlie Burns. He improved significantly from the Longford game, running the midfield show in the first half and then finishing powerfully after dying out of it for a spell in the second half. A lot of ball went through his hands and he used most of it well.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Cian McNamee 1-4 (2f), Dylan Dunne 1-0, Mark Bryant 0-2, Lee Moore and Senan Hanniffy 0-1 each.

Laois: Ultan Dunne 0-6 (2f and 1m), Ennae Byrne 0-2, Darren Brennan and Conor O'Callaghan (f) 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Jack Ryan (Doon); Tadgh Kelly (Kilclonfert), Adam Fox (Tubber), Kyle Kilmurray (Rhode); Conor Daly (Ballycumber), Patrick Kenna (Tullamore), Luke Fitzgerald (Doon);

Eamon Maher (Ferbane), Charlie Burns (Daingean); Sean Wyer (Bracknagh), Patrick Kenna (Tullamore), Conor Egan (Shamrocks); Cian McNamee (Rhode), Mark Bryant (Shamrocks), Lee Moore (Ferbane). Subs – Colm Egan (Ballycumber) for Wyer (43m), Dylan Dunne (Clara) for Maher (52m), Senan Hanniffy (Doon) for Bryant (53m), Jake Nolan (Gracefield) for Moore (58m), Cormac Whittle (Daingean) for McNamee (61m),

LAOIS: Liam Conroy; Tom Corcoran, Jack Murphy, Fionn O'Sullivan; David Whelan, Ben O'Connor, Aidan Byrne; Robbie Murphy, Darren Brennan; Jack O'Dea, Ennae Byrne, Calum McElroy; Conor O'Callaghan, Ultan Dunne, Sean Moran. Subs – Jack O'Donoghue for Byrne (26m), Josh Finn for Moran (HT), Sean Michael Ward for O'Callaghan (52m), Hugh Connolly for O'Dea (53m),

Referee – Ultan McElroy.

REFEREE WATCH

Ultan McElroy didn't give soft frees and there was some fouls not given but there was no doubting his honesty and these balanced out. He could have given Offaly a first half penalty as Cian McNamee looked to be in the area when fouled but he gave a 13 metre free that the Rhode man pointed.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Dylan Dunne's late goal was a match winner.

VENUE WATCH

The game was well hosted in O'Moore Park with plenty of stewards around the venue.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly play Dublin in Parnell Park on Saturday, April 13.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 6 (2 in first half); Laois – 11 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Laois – 1 (Conor O'Callaghan).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0