Five star second half performance secures second win for Offaly 

Offaly took another big step towards claiming a spot in the preliminary quarter finals of the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship as Brian Carroll’s side secured a 5-16 to 2-12 win over Antrim in Dowdallshill on Saturday afternoon.

Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Tier 2 Group 1 Round 2

Antrim 2-12

Offaly 5-16

Odhran Fletcher was on fire as he finished with 2-11, including a sideline cut from 65 yards out. Antrim’s James McDonell fired home a 41st minute penalty, but Offaly came back strong as they hit a remarkable 3-10 in the final 20 minutes to claim a comfortable win in the end which looked unlikely for two-thirds of the game.

Victory now leaves the Faithful on four points after two games, with games to come against Wicklow and Westmeath over the coming weeks.

It was Antrim’s first outing in this year’s championship, as they now get set for a series of fixtures on four consecutive weekends against Wicklow, Westmeath and Meath.

There was a strong breeze that Antrim played with during the opening half an hour, and they took full advantage whilst they could, but they fell behind by 3-5 to 1-9 at the break. Michael Davitt's club man Sean Smyth was the go to man with 0-2 from play whilst 1-1 Cadhan Crawford also contributed massively with 1-1 before being replaced due to injury after 24 minutes.

The second half saw both sides struggled early on with their shooting accuracy, but would soon find their mojos including the Faithful as they finished strong with two goals from Odhran Fletcher and Ruairi Woods as well as tagging over some fantastic long range points aided by a strong wind. 

It was a blistering start to the game for Offaly as Conor Thornton found the back after just 36 seconds following Ruairi Woods’ effort at goal was batted down by keeper Liam Magee with the Shamrocks man on hand for the rebound. Odhran Fletcher tapped over a free to give his side a dream start.

The Saffron’s response though was excellent as they hit 1-3 on the bounce including a Cadhan Crawford goal after he was found well by Christy Leech and the McQuillan GAC Ballycastle man made no mistake from close range. 

Dylan McNaughton was a big threat for the Ulster side early on as he sent over two excellent points, as his side settled into the game following a disastrous start. Offaly did respond with another goal as Jack Dunican picked out Ruairi Woods across the square and the Belmont man kept his composure and slotted the ball past Magee in goals, with Sean Smyth firing over his second to restore a point point deficit half way through the first half.

Cadhan Crawford sent over a 65, before two Odhran Fletcher scores along with Ruairi Woods reduced the gap to just a point. A bizarre moment then followed as Odhran Fletcher’s sideline from around the 65 metre line floated in and was misjudged by the unfortunate Liam Magee in goals and found the back of the net and suddenly Offaly found themselves in front seemingly out of nowhere, and Fletcher would add another free to cancel out Jay Mc Alonan and leave Offaly 3-5 to 1-9 in front at the break. 

It took until the 37th minute for there to be the opening score of the second half, as Macdara Mitchell, brother of Offaly senior hurler Charlie, got his opening score of the game, but Antrim would cancel out that score moments afterwards through the impressive Sean Smyth.   

Both sides were struggling to convert their chances and this would come back to hurt Offaly as they conceded a penalty when Sean Smyth was dragged down by full back Jack O’Donoghue and wing forward Sean McDonnell with full power hit the net to give Antrim the lead for the first time in the second half. 

The Faithful hit back with consecutive scores of their own, with talisman Odhran Fletcher sending over four points and Eamon Maher’s fine effort turning the game around and giving their side a four point advantage, after finding themselves behind just seven minutes beforehand.

Antrim all but conceded defeat on 49 minutes as Macdara Mitchell intercepted a short puckout and drove forward towards goal before he was tripped by Aaron Quinn and referee Thomas Gleeson awarded a penalty as well as a black card to the corner back and Odhran Fletcher found the top corner to all but seal a win for the Faithful.

Antrim’s second half misery continued as Ruairi Woods claimed a second goal and Offaly were in cruise control from then on, taking advantage of the wind and keeping up their 100% start to the season.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Odhran Fletcher (Offaly): Fiacha Carroll and Darragh Phelan put in massive shifts in around the middle of the park, while Ruairi Woods was in excellent scoring form at corner forward as he finished with 2-1. Macdara Mitchell and Conor Thronton also worked very hard on the wings, providing great space for the Faithful’s running game.

Odhran Fletcher was on song with 2-11 including some well taken scores from play, the Kilcormac-Killoughey club man was certainlylooked more comfortable this week at full forward. 

Antrim had some impressive performers across the field. Sean Smyth was their most dangerous forward, while Cadhan Crawford would have caused major issues if he hadn’t been taken off due to injury in the first half.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Odhran Fletcher 2-11 (7frees), Ruairi Woods 2-1, Conor Thornton 1-0, Eamon Maher 0-2, Macdara Mitchell and Tom O’Dwyer 0-1 each  . 

Antrim: James McDonnell 1-2 (1 penalty, 1free), Cadhan Crawford 1-1 (1free), Sean Smyth 0-3, Dylan McNaughton and Jay Mc Alonan (1free) 0-2 each, Canice McIntosh and Ronan Taylor 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: James Carroll (Birr); Barry Bennett (Birr), Jack O'Donoghue (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Jason Donoghue (Tullamore); Sean Walshe (Coolderry), Oisin Carroll (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Eamon Maher (Ferbane); Fiachra Carroll (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Darragh Phelan (Ballyskenagh-Killavilla); Conor Thornton (Shamrocks), Harry O'Sullivan (Carrig-Riverstown), Macdara Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Jack Dunican (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Odhran Fletcher (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Ruari Woods (Belmont). Subs– James Kirwan (Ferbane) for O’Sullivan (21m), Oisin O’Meara (Clara) for Thornton (41m), Sean Finlay (Tullamore) for O’Donoghue (48m), Adam Martin (Tullamore) for Dunican (53m), Tom O’Dwyer (Birr)for Woods (53m) . 

ANTRIM: Liam Magee (St Patrick’s); Eunan Johnston (Loughgiel Shamrocks), Liam Smyth (Loughgiel Shamrocks), Aaron Quinn (St Enda’s); Darragh Kinney (McQuillan GAC Ballycastle), Conor McCann (Ruairi Og Cushendall), Daire Jemfrey (Patrick Sarsfields); Canice McIntosh (Oisin Gleann Airimh), Anthony Cochrane (Dunloy); Dylan McNaughton (Ruairi Og Cushendall), Christy Leech (Oisin Gleann Airimh), James McDonnell (St Paul’s); Sean Smyth (Michael Davitts), Jay Mc Alonan (Dunloy), Cadhan Crawford (McQuillan GAC Ballycastle). Subs– Caolon Wilson (St John’s) for Crawford (24m), Ronan Taylor (St Brigids)for Cochrane (52m), Nicholas McLaughlin (Ruairi Og Cushendall) for Leech (53m), Paddy Morgan (Ruairi Og Cushendall) for Jemfrey (57m) .

Referee – Thomas Gleeson, Dublin.

REFEREE WATCH

Thomas Gleeson let the game flow in the first half, but Antrim will feel hard done by for some decisions in the second half, particularly for a couple of softish frees awarded the other way. The two penalty decisions awarded were the correct decisions.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Simply for the fact that it took everyone by surprise, Odhran Fletcher’s 26th minute sideline goal was a moment that you don’t see very often. His cut was long and caused confusion between both defence and keeper, allowing the ball to trickle into the net and thus being a huge turning point in the game, at a stage when Antrim were well on top. 

VENUE WATCH

Having originally been down to take place in Darver, this match was switched to Dowdallshill and the venue was in top condition on a simply glorious day for a match. A decent sized crowd made the long journey from both counties with plenty of space for everyone to enjoy this afternoon’s game.

SEE NEXT:

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/gaa/1767512/bonus-territory-but-offaly-hurlers-aim-to-follow-footballers-by-ending-league-on-big-high.html

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly will host Wicklow in round three on Saturday April 19th,  while Antrim face the same opponents next weekend. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Antrim – 8  (7 in first half, 1 in 2nd half); Offaly – 7 (2 in first half,  5 in 2nd half).

Yellow cards: Antrim - (0) ; Offaly – (1) Jack O’Donoghue

Black cards: Antrim - (1) Aaron Quinn.

Red cards: Antrim– (0), Offaly – (0).