Late arriving Offaly waste little time in securing knockout qualification

AFTER much less than ideal preparations, Offaly secured their place in the knockout stages of the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship with a predictable run away win over Wicklow in Aughrim on Saturday.

Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Tier 2 Group 1 Round 1

Offaly 3-30

Wicklow 1-7

A bus breakdown in Kilcullen resulted in this game starting over an hour after the scheduled 2pm throw in and a rushing Offaly had just a few minutes to get ready before the action started.

While these unfortunate things can happen, the Offaly bus had broken down before 12.45pm and it was over two hours later before they arrived in Aughrim. It was not good preparation for either side with the Wicklow squad initially told it would get underway at 2.30pm. They had warmed up for that when word emerged that the Offaly arrival would be later than expected – there was less than a hundred spectators present.

Offaly came fully togged out and engaged in a few rushed press ups, runs and pucks before lining up for the throw in. Against different opposition, Offaly would have been sitting ducks but with Wicklow having suffered maulings at the hands of Antrim and Westmeath, it was clear that a few players would have needed to be left behind in Kilcullen for them to lose this one.

Offaly were able to relax within a few minutes of the start as it became clear that Wicklow were not up to much. They didn't rise the ball with an early free and a defender then let the ball through to Killian Wynne for a fourth minute goal and a 1-1 to no score lead.

It took Offaly a few minutes to get their own eye in but once they did, they opened daylight between the teams. A great Odhran Fletcher run and pass to James Hennessy for a well taken goal put Offaly 2-9 to 0-3 up and it was all over.

Wicklow tried hard in the first half but Offaly had way too much skill and pace for them. Their full forward line was sharp and fast, though they did have a couple of misses and their place in the preliminary quarter-finals was secure when they led by 2-12 to 0-4 at half time.

With the wind to come, Offaly couldn't lose the game from here and the second half was a non event. Offaly went through the motions for a few minutes as Wicklow got three of the first four points but the introduction of subs hungry to make an impression saw them hit top gear again.

The points flowed over from all over with six points coming off the bench and Odhran Fletcher got in for a 56^th minute goal. Tom Brennan got a 58^th minute goal on a disspiriting afternoon for the home side. The final score of 3-30 to 1-7 was comprehensive and Offaly could have ran in more goals if they wished.

Offaly's meeting with Westmeath next Saturday will determine the group placings for the preliminary quarter-finals and that is the start of the real business for them.

This was a decent performance by them. It wasn't flawless but they were professional and did what they had to do against such inferior opposition. As a unit they played well with the defence in complete control, midfield on plenty of ball and the attack way too good for a floundering Wicklow defence.

They did miss some frees, close in ones by Odhran Fletcher and long range byAndrew Hogan and this will have to be tightened up on against better opposition – Fletcher was very lively in the attack and got some good scores while Hogan was again utterly dominant at the heart of defence. Killian Wynne was swtiched onto some frees in the second half, taking them very well and the earlier misses didn't matter here – with Westmeath having beaten Antrim earlier on, three teams couldn't tie at the top and scoring difference was irrelevant.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

James Hennessy (Offaly): James Hennessy had a very good game in the Offaly attack. He was excellent in the first half when he scored 1-3, helping put Wicklow to bed. He was not as prominent in the second half but got a hard worked point and spread around some nice passes before being called ashore.

Andrew Hogan was a contender with five poins from centre back as was Odhran Fletcher who showed real potential and was wonderfully sharp at times, despite his free taking difficulties. Sean Carey really impressed off the bench and credit to Killian Wynne for the way he took the frees when switched onto them.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Odhran Fletcher (4f) and Killian Wynne (4f) 1-5 each, James Hennessy 1-4, Andrew Hogan 0-5 (1f), Sean Carey 0-4, Brian Guinan 0-2, James O'Sullivan, James Sampson, Conor Egan, Macdara Mitchell and Donal Dooley 0-1 each.

Wicklow: Adam Lifely 0-5 (4f), Tom Brennan 1-0, Jack O'Leary 0-2.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Matt Watkins (Ballyskenach-Killavilla); Conor Berry (Clodiagh Gaels), Joe McLoughney (Coolderry), Cian Kinnarney (Durrow); Oisin Carroll (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Andrew Hogan (Coolderry), Michael Dooley (Kinnitty); Morgan Feenane (Birr), James O'Sullivan (Shinrone); Brian Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Killian Wynne (Tullamore), James Sampson (Shinrone); Conor Egan (Shamrocks), James Hennessy (Drumcullen), Odhran Fletcher (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Eamon Maher (Ferbane) for Feenane (HT), Luke Bracken (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Dooley (HT), Macdara Mitchell for Egan (HT), Sean Carey (Seir Kieran) for Sampson (43m), Donal Dooley (Shamrocks) for Hennessy (49m).

WICKLOW: Keith Lawless; Se Killoran, Donnacha Murphy, Noah Hayes; Cillian Goff, Rian Rooney, Josh Byrne; Paddy Mariman, Oscar Lane; Jack Gregan, Adam Lifely, Tom Brennan; Jack O'Leary, Chris O'Toole, Luke Cotter. Subs – Sean Byrne for Killoran (13m), Senan Croke for Goff (29m), Finian Hughes for Josh Byrne (45m), Eoin Lawlor for O'Toole (53m), Darragh Leacy for Lane (54m).

Referee – Jimmy Heavey, Wexford.

REFEREE WATCH

Jimmy Heavey had a good game. He was in control and there were no issues.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

This game was really over in the fourth minute when Killian Wynne's goal gave Offaly a 1-1 to no score lead.

VENUE WATCH

With the first of the Spring sun shining, Aughrim looked really well and the fixture was well hosted.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly are at home to Westmeath in their final group fixture next Saturday. Both teams are through to the preliminary quarter-finals irrespective of the result there.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - (8 in first half); Wicklow - (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Wicklow – 1 (Jack O'Leary).

Red cards: 0.