Dublin turn on style in second half to send Offaly into preliminary quarter-finals

WITH both through to the knockout stages irrespective of the result, Offaly and Dublin had plenty of margin for error when they met in their third and final round robin game of the Leinster Minor Football Championship in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. The performance was more important than the result as Dublin pulled away in the second half to claim a quarter-final place while Offaly have a preliminary quarter-final on Wednesday, April 24 against the top team from group 3.

Leinster Minor Football Championship Group 1 Round 3

Dublin 2-15

Offaly 2-5

It was a very mixed performance by Offaly, not the worse but disappointing in the second half as they struggled to get their hands on the ball and mount real penetrating attacks against the wind.

Even when the game was slipping from their grasp, there was still an honesty to Offaly as they continued to work hard and try to do the right thing. Trying to do the right thing when things are going wrong is always an admirable quality and sometimes can rescue a dire situation but not here as Dublin were excellent with the wind on their backs in the second half.

Offaly had played solidly in the first half and were the better team.Two quality goals from Cian McNamee, a brother of former county stalwarts, Niall and Alan, had Offaly 2-4 to 0-4 ahead coming up to half time and had the gap stayed at that, they would have been competitive for much longer in the second half.

Instead Rian Doherty got through for a 26^th goal and that really changed the game as Dublin trailed by 2-4 to 1-4 at half time.

Offaly were in trouble from the restart as Dublin got a run of scores way too quick and within a few minutes, the only issue was the home team's winning margin. Dublin had it back to level terms within two minutes, Finn McGinniss edged them ahead in the 33^rd minute and they were 1-10 to 2-4 ahead by the time Offaly finally got out of their half and mounted their first second half attack in the 38^th minute.

A point from the superb Donach Magee put Dublin four ahead in the 40^th minute and from here on Offaly were on a damage limitation exercise. Dublin were 1-13 to 2-4 clear when their second goal arrived in the 50^th minute. Micheal Kelly had made two fine saves to deny Fintan Lydon and Bobby Colbert earlier but couldn't stop Donach Magee from tapping to the net after his kickout was intercepted.

Offaly did mount a few attacks in the closing quarter and Cian McNamee almost got in for a third goal after Eoin Rouse hit the post but was bottled up. Their only point came from sub Colm Egan in the 58^th minute and saved them from a scoreless half but a ten point gap was still a very comprehensive defeat for Offaly. The statistic that Offaly had only one second half point and no wide shows how dominant Dublin were.

The wind was a bigger factor than may have been apparent in real time – both sides struggled to find men and place kickouts when against it once the opposition pushed up.

The game was really lost in the opening ten minutes of the second half and Dublin played some great football in this period. Offaly tried hard but couldn't live with Dublin in the business end of the game and will now try to rebuild for their big knockout game in eleven days time.

A stiff swirling wind was in Offaly's favour in the first half but Dublin settled quicker, with lively corner forward Rian Doherty getting them going with two points, one free.

A superbly taken sixth minute goal from Cian McNamee, after a great run and pass by Lee Moore, steadied Offaly as they began to play composed, constructive football. Donach McGee levelled it up for Dublin but Offaly found some of their best form after this.

Cian McNamee got two frees, the second a fabulous strike from out near the left sideline while hard working midfielder Eoghan Cullen pointed from play and Mark Cullen curled over a free to put the visitors 1-4 to 0-4 ahead after 21 minutes.

Offaly's work ethic paid off when they got a stunning second goal in the 24^th minute. They pushed up on Brian Collins' kickouts regularly, forcing him into errors and an interception by Lee Moore led to Cian McNamee's second goal – he almost lifted the net out of it with a powerful shot and a 2-4 to 0-4 lead had Offaly in a very strong position.

Unfortunately, they conceded an avoidable goal two minutes later as Tadgh Kelly, who played well in defence, just failing to cut out a through ball and Brian Doherty raced through to leave Dublin trailing by 2-4 to 1-4 at the break – and very much in the hunt.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Donach Magee (Dublin): Donach Magee oozed quality for Dublin, scoring 1-4 from wing forward. He got 1-3 from play and a superb strike from a '45'. He was very good in play and could have scored more. Rian Doherty and Finn McGinnis also excelled for the winners.

Cian McNamee was Offaly's best player. He had a superb first half, scoring 2-2 and while he was starved of ball in the second half, he was very close to getting in for a third goal. Micheal Kelly, Tadgh Kelly, Eamon Maher, Luke Fitzgerald, Conor Egan, Eoghan Cullen and Eoin Rouse caught the eye at different stages for Offaly but as a unit, they were second best.

THE SCORERS

Dublin: Rian Doherty 1-6 (3f), Donach Magee 1-4 (1 '45'), Finn McGinniss 0-2, Eoghan O'Donovan, Josh Kennedy, Danny McGill 0-1 each.

Offaly: Cian McNamee 2-2 (2f), Mark Bryant (f), Eoghan Cullen and Colm Egan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Micheal Kelly (Kilcormac-Killouhey); Tadgh Kelly (Kilclonfert), Adam Fox (Tubber), Kyle Kilmurray (Rhode); Eamon Maher (Ferbane), Patrick Kenna (Tullamore), Luke Fitzgerald (Doon); Eoghan Cullen (Edenderry), Charlie Burns (Daingean); Conor Daly (Ballycumber), Eoin Rouse (Tullamore), Conor Egan (Shamrocks); Cian McNamee (Rhode), Mark Bryant (Shamrocks), Lee Moore (Ferbane). Subs – Jack O'Donoghue (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Fox, inj.(3m), Senan Hanniffy (Doon) for Bryant (HT), Colm Egan (Ballycumber) for Daly (37m), Jake Nolan (Gracefield) for Conor Egan, inj. (40m), Sean Wyer for Cullen (54m),

DUBLIN: Brian Collins; Eoghan O'Donovan, Finn Costello, Jack O'Keeffe; Josh Kennedy, Finn McGinniss, Ryan Ennis; Danny McGill, Senan Bolger, Donach Magee; Charlie Loughran, Fintan Lydon, Rian Doherty. Subs – Shane Devane forO'Donovan (45m), Bobby Colbert for Bolger (49m), Cillian McCabe for Loughran (53m), Hugh O'Neill for Lydon (53m), Jack O'Connor for Costello (55m),

Referee – Colm McCullough.

REFEREE WATCH

Colm McCullough had a very good game and was not a factor at all in the outcome.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Rian Doherty's 26^th minute goal changed the game and a three point half time deficit was much easier to retrieve for Dublin than a six point one.

VENUE WATCH

It was a busy day for Offaly supporters taking in both minor and senior championship games. At least the 12.30pm throw in for the minor meant it was possible to do it without stress. It was a lovely breeze day in Dublin with the sun shining initially before the rain arrived and the Parnell Park pitch looked good. It was certainly better than it was for the Offaly v Dublin U-20 hurling fixture a couple of weeks ago when there was water along the stand sideline. As usual, the Parnell Park stewards were welcoming, helpful and witty.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly go into the preliminary quarter-finals with Dublin in the quarter-finals.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 4 (4 in first half); Dublin – 8 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Dublin – 1 (Eoghan O'Donovan).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0.