Offaly end bad year on a real downer with heavy defeat in second tier final

OFFALY got exactly what they deserved when a shockingly lacklustre, almost energy-less performance saw them fall to a heavy defeat to Westmeath in the Leinster U20 football second tier Andrew Corden Cup final in O'Connor Park on Tuesday evening.

Leinster U20 Football Andrew Corden Cup final

Westmeath 3-17

Offaly 1-5

It was a sad end to a bad year for the U20 footballers who never got going and were gone out of the championship proper after two opening round losses. They just barely beat a second string Meath side in their final group game and gave their best display of the year when beating Carlow in the semi-final of this competition last week.

Unfortunately, they were a country mile off the boil here and it was not nice to witness the way they fell away in the second half. Apart from a spell in the first half, they were outplayed by the visitors and their dominance became increasingly pronounced as the second half wore on.

Offaly's work rate and intensity levels were way below what you would expect for a final of any description, even a second tier one. Some players looked stuck to the ground, not able to get beyond third gear and the defence was dreadfully loose at times, giving Westmeath players too much room and not closing down quick enough.

It was just a dreadfully substandard performance and there were very few redeeming aspects for Offaly. Between players pulling off the panel, an injury to their star player Cillian Bourke, that ruled him out of the group games – he didn't feature at all in the second tier competition -, and poor displays, it just never happened for this team, they just never got momentum.

There were flashes of promise in some games and some players definitely put their hands up but there was an all round collective malfunction here – and while some players will be very disappointed at the way they played, it was very much an all round malaise.

For whatever reason, Offaly were just too slow, too stagnant in a lot of their play and their application to the basics often left a lot to be desired. For example, three frees were brought forward into scoring range for players not getting out of the way of or handing the ball back to the fouled player and that type of play can't be stood over in the new rules.

Offaly held their own briefly at the start, even though Shane Corcoran's two pointer had Westmeath three points up after seven minutes. Dara Bates had a goal shot saved saved in the seventh minute while Conor Melia made a good save from Finn Duffy at the other end. Referee Colm McCullough rightly over turned the award of a 15^th minute penalty for what was never a foot block on Shane Ormbsy and Offaly then had their only real purple patch.

Conor Fox got in for a 17^th minute goal after a Cian Bracken pass and quickly added a point to give Offaly a 1-1 to 0-3 lead. While Westmeath had missed a few chances, Offaly were certainly worth 1-1 at that stage but they really floundered in the second quarter. It was disconcerting to watch the attempts of some defenders to track or chase opponents and Westmeath led by 1-7 to 1-2 at half time, Finn Duffy scoring their goal in the 24^th minute.

While a five point half time deficit was retrievable, it was always unlikely that Offaly would get their game up to the required level to salvage it.

They were 1-10 to 1-4 behind after 44 minutes and a goal would have brought them back into it. Instead, Offaly threw in the towel once Westmeath started tapping over points and an already deficient work ethic became almost non existent.

It was no surprise to see players giving up as Westmeath opened real daylight but it was a very hard watch. The winners had 1-16 on the board when Shane Corcoran got their second goal in the 53^rd minute and sub Conor Callaghan added the third in injury time as Offaly made Westmeath look better than they are – Westmeath had beaten Offaly in the group stages of the championship proper.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Tadgh Baker (Westmeath): Westmeath built a powerful foundation at midfield where Tadgh Baker and Shane Ormbsy were in complete control. Tadgh Baker, a son of former Clare hurler and Offaly senior hurling manager, Ollie Baker, is the selection. His work rate was terrific as he did the basics of closing down players, working hard and moving the ball very well. He kicked two points and had a very good game.

It was a bleak evening for Offaly with Dara Bates trying his utmost to drive them on until his interest finally went during the second half – you couldn't blame him for this with so many going through the motions. Conor Melia, Charlie Keogh and Conor Fox also caught the eye at stages.

THE SCORERS

Westmeath: Finn Duffy 1-7 (5f), Shane Corcoran 1-2 (1 2p), Conor Callaghan 1-1, Tadgh Baker and Jack Duncan 0-2 each, Ronan Murray, Kealan Connell, Ryan Kelly 0-1 each

Offaly: Conor Fox 1-1, Brian Carroll (f), Steven Doran, Kaelem Bryan (f) and Cillian Foran 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Conor Meila (Bracknagh); Jack Daly (Tullamore), Christian McKeon (Clara), Charlie Keogh (Bracknagh); Harry Goulding (Edenderry), Jake Maher (Ferbane), Jack Maher (Tullamore); David O'Rourke (Shamrocks), Eoin Dunne (Clodiagh Gaels); Brian Carroll (Ferbane), Dara Bates (Shamrocks), Steven Doran (Ballinamere); Conor Fox (Tubber), Cian Bracken (Daingean), Kaelum Bryan (Edenderry). Subs – Patrick Kenna (Tullamore) for Daly (14m), Cillian Foran (Edenderry) for Bracken (33m), Davin Keegan (Tullamore) for Dunne (43m), Luke Kelly (Doon) for Fox (48m), Ciaran Scully (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Carroll (48m).

WSTMEATH: Luke Nicholson; Sean Dillon, Adam Keane, Seanai Bracken; Aodhan Curran, Billy Moffatt, Gareth Mullaniff; Shane Ormbsy, Tadgh Baker; Peter Murphy, Jack Duncan, Ronan Murray; Shane Corcoran, Kealan Connell, Finn Duffy. Subs – Conor Callaghan for Murray (36m), Matthew Thornton for Moffatt (39m), Ryan Kelly for Murphy (46m), Taylor Slevin for Curran (53m), Donnacha Maguire for Connell (56m).

Referee – Colm McCullough.

REFEREE WATCH

Colm McCullough got most things right and fair play to him for consulting with his officials and over turning his initial award of a 15^th minute penalty when he wrongly penalised Jack Maher for a foot block on Shane Ormsby. Everyone in O'Connor Park could see that it wasn't a foot block and full marks to the referee for consulting with umpires and a linesman – irrespective of whether he was informed of his error by a linesman or not, he did the right thing. He also over turned a second half decision that he initially signalled the wrong way and he was not a factor in the outcome.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Finn Duffy's 24^th minute goal gave Westmeath a 1-5 to 1-1 lead and they never looked like losing after this.

VENUE WATCH

It was only right that this final was played in O'Connor Park, though the pitch looked a bit lumpy in places but was probably perfect to play on – there was heavy rain late last week, a busy weekend with two big fixtures and work will take place in the coming weeks to bring the pitch back to its best. The crowd wasn't too bad considering the status of this competition and the County Board treated the fixture with full respect.

WHAT'S NEXT

Westmeath go onto contest the Liam O'Connor Cup at national level.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 7 (3 in first half); Westmeath – 10 (7 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Westmeath – 1 (Peter Murphy).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0