Last gasp defeat sends Offaly into preliminary quarter-final

OFFALY had victory snatched from their grasp when Laois converted a penalty deep in injury time of a thrilling Tailteann Cup derby shootout in Newbridge on Saturday evening.

Tailteann Cup Senior Football Group 2 Round 3

Laois 3-18

Offaly 3-16

Offaly looked like they had done just enough for the win as they led by 3-16 to 2-18 with injury time ticking towards a conclusion but committed a bit of hari-kari at the end as they conceded a very sloppy late penalty with Ruari McNamee pushing Patrick O'Sullivan and Mark Barry blasted the penalty to the net for the winner.

It was unfortunate that McNamee ended up being the villain of the piece as he had been outstanding after being introduced, scoring a crucial goal and a point to put Offaly on the verge of a third Tailteann Cup victory.

Wicklow ran riot in the second half to come back against Waterford to tie with Offaly and Laois on four points. They go into the quarter-finals on scoring difference as group winners while Offaly are second and have a home preliminary quarter-final next weekend and Laois will be away in one of those games.

It was a very mixed bag by Offaly, who struggled for extended spells but also produced periods of very good football. With Diarmuid and Cormac Egan out with hamstring injuries, some of the younger players, Cathal Flynn and John Furlong looked tired and didn't move with their usual energy, though they had some very good spells. Yet Offaly played well enough to win and showed the right character but couldn't close it out.

They started well and a two point lead in no way reflected their early dominance. Laois got going then and goals in the 12^th and 22^nd minutes from Damon Larkin had them 2-4 to 0-4 ahead. The second one was a spectacular strike as Conor Heffernan won a great ball at midfield and Larkin powered through the middle, though from an Offaly perspective it was all too easy.

Offaly were struggling badly at this stage but lifted it in the second quarter. They went on a scoring spree and the outstanding Cillian Bourke netted a great 34^th minute goal as they did very well to lead by 1-10 to 2-6 at the break.

Laois grabbed the initiative in the second half and three two pointers had them 2-13 to 1-13 ahead after 48 minutes. A super Jordan Hayes goal, set up by Keith O'Neill levelled it up in the 50^th minute and it went down to the wire from here.

Laois hit another great streak to lead by 2-17 to 2-15 after 63 minutes but Ruari McNamee's 67^th minute goal, set up by Cillian Bourke, gave Offaly a 3-15 to 2-17 lead. Patrick O'Sullivan, brilliant for Laois let on, equalised and Ruari McNamee slotted over a 71^st minute point to put Offaly back ahead but that 75^th minute penalty won the day for Laois.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cillian Bourke (Offaly): It was a very early coming of age evening for Cillian Bourke, a secondary school student about to do his Leaving Certificate. Bourke was immense here. He scored a super goal, set up the third, won great ball and displayed an inspiring work rate, turning over a lot of ball as well as getting into dangerous advanced positions.

Aidan Bracken, Jordan Hayes, Keith O'Neill and Ruari McNamee were among the other players who really impressed for Offaly.

THE SCORERS

Laois: Damon Larkin 2-1, Brian Byrne 0-4, Aaron McEvoy 1-1, Mark Barry 1-0 (penalty), Ronan Coffey 0-3 (2f), Killian Roche (2pf), Niall Corbett (2p) Michael Doran and Patrick O'Sullivan 0-2 each, Pa Kirwan 0-1.

Offaly: Keith O'Neill 0-7 (1 x 2p and 2f), Jordan Hayes 1-2, Ruari McNamee 1-1, Cillian Bourke 1-0, Shane Tierney 0-3, Paddy Dunican ('45'), Kyle Higgins, Jack Bryant 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks); Lee Pearson (Edenderry), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), Daire McDaid (Tullamore); Aidan Bracken (Ballycommon), John Furlong (Tullamore), Rory Egan (Edenderry); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry); Kyle Higgins (Ferbane), Cathal Flynn (Ferbane), Cillian Bourke (Tullamore); Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks), Shane Tierney (Daingean). Subs – Dylan Hyland (Raheen) for Tierney (56m), Ruari McNamee (Rhode) for O'Neill (64m), Aaron Kellaghan (Rhode) for Bourke (74m),

LAOIS: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Liam Knowles; Patrick O'Sullivan, Seamus Lacey, Aaron McEvoy; Conor Heffernan, Damon Larkin; Pa Kirwan, Ronan Coffey, Kevin Swayne; Brian Byrne, Mark Barry, Niall Corbett. Subs – Michael Doran for Lacey (HT), Cathal Lee for Corbet (58m), Jake Darcy for McEvoy (64m), Josh Hogan for Knowles (74m),

Referee – James Molloy, Galway.

REFEREE WATCH

A mixed bag by James Molloy. He was fair and impartial but there were some things missed and a small bit of inconsistency at times – Mark Barry was fortunate to get a yellow and not a black for what looked a body check with ten minutes left. He didn't fall for it when Laois defender Patrick O'Sullivan dropped to the ground like he had been shot under minimal contact from Cathal Flynn late on, telling him to get up.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Laois' injury time penalty was the big moment here.

VENUE WATCH

St Conleth's Park is getting plenty of games after its refurbishment and was the obvious neutral venue for this clash. Kildare hosted it very well

WHAT'S NEXT

Both Offaly and Laois are in the preliminary quarter-finals with Offaly having a home game as runners up and Laois away.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 6 (5 in first half); Laois – 7 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Laois – 2 (Seamus Lacey, Mark Barry).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0