Offaly hurling manager was not concerned as Kerry posed first half questions

OFFALY senior hurling manager Johnny Kelly was certainly not reaching for any panic buttons as Kerry posed them plenty of problems during the first half of Sunday's winner take all Joe McDonagh Cup tie in O'Connor Park.

Offaly looked quite flat early on and there was brief concern that it could be one of those days as Kerry were the better side for the opening twenty minutes. The visitors were three points up at one stage but a 19th minute penalty goal from Eoghan Cahill changed the game. Offaly led by 1-11 to 0-10 at half time, which was a powerful place to be considering they hadn't played that well overall.

In the second half, Offaly clicked into top gear, eating Kerry alive. They outscored them by 2-13 to 0-5 for a very impressive and convincing 3-24 to 0-15 win.

While they have a trip to Ballycran to meet Down next Saturday, that game is now a dead rubber as Offaly can't be denied a renewal with Laois in the final in Croke Park on Saturday, June 8 – it will be played before the Leinster senior hurling final.

It means that Offaly don't have to worry about Down next Saturday, though Kelly stressed that the trip north never entered their conscious.

“It wasn't a case of worrying about next Saturday, we all knew we win today and we were in a final, lose and you were probably out.”

The Portumna man did not share the concern of some supporters as Offaly struggled to get going in the first quarter plus.

“It's a 75 minute game. Yes, you would be concerned if we were being ripped apart but we weren't really. They were getting a bit of joy from the short puck-out and going long and then some of our deliveries weren't really working. Overall, we went in four points up. There was a stage there were they got three points ahead but it was from a couple of frees. That happens in a game.

“You have to weather those type of mini storms and get on with it. The players have to show that maturity and on field management as well and we are gradually getting there.”

Kerry had been going well and Kelly always expected them to tear into them from the start.

“In fairness, Kerry weren't going to come up that distance to lie down. They are a capable team. They have a good management set up and they get the most out of themselves every day they go out. They are very physical, they play with a sweeper and it was quite effective in closing off one side of the field there. It limits our options so it made us think about our game and work the ball that little bit better and cleverer. We certainly did that towards the end of the first half and worked the ball that bit better.”

He was very happy with Offaly's second half tour-de-force.

“Players upped their individual performances and when each individual steps up to a level, it helps the entire team collectively. There is an onus on these players when they take an Offaly jersey to perform to the best of their capabilities. Sometimes it doesn't work but look its sport and it is not the be all and end all.”

Offaly's second half excellence meant that they had the luxury of taking off U-20 players, Cathal King and Dan Bourke earlier than they might have expected, ahead of Wednesday's Leinster final against Dublin. They also used Adam Screeney only fleetingly as a blood sub early in the second half. Screeney immediately attracted the attention of Kerry wing back, Kyle O'Connor who picked up a yellow as he tried to ruffle the emerging star's feathers. In a tight game, Screeney would have been expected to come back on, though Kelly said this wasn't certain.

“Maybe, maybe not. It would have depended on how the game was going. He is certainly the top talent in the country, he is bringing a huge crowd to games. He is a really effective inside forward but we saw Oisin Kelly coming in there today and getting a really good goal. Charlie Mitchell was really dangerous. Look at the way Killian Sampson played there. There is a lot of hurlers in Offaly besides Adam even though Adam is one of the top in the country. We are happy with the entire bunch.”

Offaly were devastated to lose to a late Laois rally in the first round and Kelly is looking forward to having another cut at them, though he stressed:

“Laois are a top team. The forward line that Laois has is exceptional. The day below in Portlaoise, they got a goal right at the death. It was more the nature of the defeat that took our time to get our heads around it. That week after it, the boys came back in and there was a good buzz in training. We are back at it and the chase is still on.”

Offaly's win means that any dilemma over using U-20s is now over. If Offaly beat Dublin, the All-Ireland final against the Munster champions on the weekend of June 1-2 and they won't be playing for the seniors again until that campaign is concluded.

Kelly concluded:

“It takes a small bit of pressure off it but injuries, anything can happen in a couple of weeks. You can pick up a niggle here and there. We can't afford too many players in Offaly. We have a small panel. You are talking about a panel of 31 which is incredibly small when you look at counties who have 36, 38 and 40 players. It does test our resolve and we have to be resilient and be resourceful with how we pick teams and how we manage, not just the game day situation but also midweek as well.”