Offaly pull away in second half to overcome 13 man Antrim in emphatic style

Allianz National Football League Division 3 Round 3

OFFALY 4-19

ANTRIM 0-15

OFFALY recorded their third victory in succession in impressive fashion to overcome 13 man Antrim by a 16 point margin in their Allianz National Football League Division 3 game at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Sunday.

In the end Offaly made their numerical advantage count to wear down Antrim but they had to work hard up to the final 15 minutes when they finally began to pull away. Only three points separated them at that point but Offaly dominated the final quarter to do their scoring difference no harm at all.

Antrim lost bost midfielders to straight red cards in the first seven minutes of the second half and in truth there was no way back for them after that. They had done well to get back into the game in the final 10 minutes of the first half when they scored six points without reply to leave just two points in it at the break but any momentum they had going into the second half from that was lost with those two dismissals.

Offaly played very well at stages but there were times when they didn't make their possession count, particularly in the third quarter, when they only added three points to their half time tally but they recitified that in the final quarter with another 2-8.

The win ensures Offaly maintain their 100% record along with Kildare at the top of the table and they can confidently look forward to their remaining games with a shot at promotion now a very real possibility. They travel to Fermanagh next Sunday and will hope to continue their good form there in what will be another good test for Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly's men.

Both sides enjoyed periods of supremacy in the first half of this game. Antrim started well and led by 0-4 to 0-2 after seven minutes but Offaly hit 1-6 without reply over the next 15 minutes to take a seven point lead. They extended that to eight with their second goal after 25 minutes but failed to score for the remainder of the half as Antrim hit 0-6 to cut the interval deficit to just two points, 2-8 to 0-12.

Those early dismissals in the second half really knocked any hopes of an Antrim win but to their credit they hung on and stayed in the game and with 15 minutes to go still only trailed by three points and gave Offaly some nervous moments. But Offaly finally made their pressure pay over the remainder of the game outscoring Antrim 2-8 to 0-1 to seal an impresssive victory.

Offaly made a number of changes from their named team with Kyle Higgins and John Furlong both being brought into defence where they did very well as did Lee Pearson. Jordan Hayes had an excellent game in the middle of the field while Cillian Bourke, Cathal Flynn, Keith O'Neill in the second half and Dylan Hyland also contributed well.

Antrim weren't helped by those two red cards but Eunan Walsh, Dermot McAleese, Marc Jordan, Patrick McBride and Ruairi McCann all tried hard.

Antrim got the perfect start to the game when Patrick McBride kicked a two pointer just a minute into the game. Dylan Hyland pointed an Offaly free but Ruairi McCann replied with a point from a mark for Antrim. Shane Tierney and Dominic McEnhill exchanged points from play as Antrim maintained their two point lead after seven minutes but they failed to score for the next 15 minutes as Offaly took over.

The home side levelled when Dylan Hyland kicked a two pointer from a free at the edge of the arc and when Antrim sent the kick out astray, the ball was played back in to Jack Bryant, whose effort was blocked by the goalie Michael Byrne, but Shane Tierney was following in to bundle the ball over the line. Jack Bryant quickly added a point and Offaly were four ahead after 11 minutes.

Dylan Hyland from a '45', Jack Bryant from a mark and Dylan Hyland with a lovely point from play on the left stretched the Offaly lead to seven points. Antrim replied when Conor Hand kicked a two pointer but Offaly then struck for their second goal after 25 minutes. Paddy Dunican was going for a two pointer but his effort dropped short and Cillian Bourke challenged Antrim goalkeeper Michael Byrne for the dropping ball and when it broke Bourke finished it to the net.

That put Offaly eight ahead but they failed to score for the remainder of the half. Marc Jordan pulled a point back for Antrim before Dermot McAleese kicked a two pointer to cut the lead to five. Conor Hand added another and Dominic McEnhill kicked two late frees to leave just two points in it at half time, 2-8 to 0-12.

Antrim suffered a blow a minute after the restart when midfielder Conor Stewart received a straight red card for an off the ball incident which left John Furlong on the ground. Offaly had a couple of early wides but seven minutes in Dylan Hyland kicked a fine two pointer but was hit late as he did so and the second Antrim midfielder Conor Hand saw red as a result of that. Keith O'Neill added an Offaly free but despite having two extra men they didn't push on and Antrim did pose them some problems at the back. Dominic McEnhill pointed another free and then after a scramble in the goalmouth Marc Jordan saw his shot saved on the line by an alert John Furlong at the expense of a '45' which Michael Byrne pointed to leave just three in it midway through the half.

Nigel Dunne came into the Offaly attack and quickly added a free and then Keith O'Neill kicked a lovely point. Offaly then broke quickly from defence and Shane Tierney and Nigel Dunne combined to set up Keith O'Neill and he finished to the net. Offaly could relax a bit more now and after another break Jordan Hayes stormed forward to point. John Furlong curled another over and Shane Tierney and Jack Bryant added raised further white flags.

The fourth goal came two minutes from the end when Cathal Flynn showed some lovely footwork on the ground to slide the ball to Keith O'Neill and he netted from close range. Marc Jordan scored Antrim's only point from play in the half after 34 minutes but Nigel Dunne hit two more for Offaly to give them a 16 point winning margin.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson, Kyle Higgins, Rory Egan; Aidan Bracken, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Cillian Bourke, Cathal Flynn, Keith O'Neill; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney. Subs. Nigel Dunne (for Dylan Hyland, 52 mins), Cathal Donoghue (for Cillian Bourke, 65 mins), Shane O'Toole Greene (for Cormac Egan, 67 mins), Daire McDaid (for Lee Pearson, 68 mins), Robbie Gallagher (for Shane Tierney, 70 mins).

ANTRIM: Michael Byrne; James McDonnell, Eunan Walsh, James McAuley; Ronan Boyle, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese; Conor Stewart, Conor Hand; Patrick Finnegan, Marc Jordan, Ryan McQuillan; Patrick McBride, Ruari McCann, Dominic McEnhill. Subs.Fionn Nagle (for Ryan McQuillan, 23 mins), Patrick Ferris (for Joseph Finnegan, 30 mins), John Morgan (for Ronan Boyle, 61 mins), Ryan Murray (for Dominic McEnhill, 61 mins), Calum Higgins (for Patrick McBride, 67 mins).

REFEREE: David Murnane (Cork).

MAN OF THE MATCH

Offaly had some strong contenders. John Furlong was excellent at centre back, Dylan Hyland kicked seven points, Keith O'Neill had a very good second half scoring 2-2, but over the 70 minutes Jordan Hayes was a tower of strength in midfield for Offaly. He won a lot of ball and also drove forward effectively and gave a fine all round display.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Antrim started the game well and were 0-4 to 0-2 in front after seven minutes and giving Offaly plenty of problems. However Offaly levelled after 10 minutes and the Antrim kickout went straight to Offaly and within a flash Shane Tierney was finishing the ball to the net. Jack Bryant immediately added another point and inside about a minute Offaly had gone from two down to four up and they pushed on to build up an eight point lead 10 minutes before the break. Although Antrim did enjoy a good 10 minute spell before the break, Offaly never lost the lead again and that little scoring burst inside a minute early in the game had put them in the driving seat.

REFEREE WATCH

On the while David Murnane did a good job. Antrim could have little quibble with the two red cards and didn't really protest at them at the time. There were a few debateable decisions either way but nothing significant. He allowed the new advantage rule to run on, possibly too long on occasion, but overall he did a good job.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly travel to play Fermanagh in Enniskillen on Sunday next at 2pm, while Antrim host Leitrim at Corrigan Park next Saturday.

VENUE WATCH

It was a wet miserable day in Tullamore and those conditions didn't help anyone. Players did lose their footing on occasion but overall the pitch was in good condition, particularly compared to some around the country, and held up well. There were plenty of stewards on duty to cater for the crowd and all other arrangements ran smoothly.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 7 (1 in first half) Antrim 5 (4 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 3 (Cathal Flynn, Dylan Hyland, Cathal Donoghue) Antrim 1 (Patrick Ferris)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: Offaly 0 Antrim 2 (Conor Stewart, Conor Hand)

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Keith O'Neill (2-2, 0-1 free), Dylan Hyland (0-7, 1 x 2p, 0-1 '45', 0-3 frees 1 x 2p), Shane Tierney (1-2), Jack Bryant (0-3, 0-1 mark), Nigel Dunne (0-3, 0-1 free), Cillian Bourke (1-0), Jordan Hayes, John Furlong (0-1 each).

Antrim; Dominic McEnhill (0-4, 0-3 frees), Conor Hand (0-3, 1 x 2p), Marc Jordan (0-2), Patrick McBride (0-2, 1 x 2p), Dermot McAleese (0-2, 1 x 2p), Ruairi McCann (mark), Michael Byrne (0-1, '45').