Offaly make no mistakes with professional demolition of New York exiles

CLEARLY learning lessons from the recent past, Offaly cruised into the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup with a more comfortable win than expected over New York in a one sided preliminary quarter-final in O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Football Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final

Offaly 2-25

New York 1-12

With memories of last year's shocking reverse against another team of exiles, London still painfully fresh, Offaly were nervously focused in the build up, giving New York full respect and conscious of the possibility of another disastrous result.

There were early alarm bells ringing as they struggled to settle with a stiff wind on their back, trailing by 0-2 to 0-1 after nine minutes and just 0-6 to 0-2 ahead at the quarter-way stage. Their energy levels were not quite right and it looked like they could struggle but they finally got going in the second quarter and by the time New York kicked their third point in the 43^rd minute, Offaly had 1-16 on the board and the gap was way too big to retrieve.

It was a professional, satisfactory display by Offaly and they controlled the game very effectively once they began to find the range and open up New York in the second quarter.

New York looked a very poor side and fears about their threats were misplaced but it was an important win for Offaly and good to see them achieving it with a minimum of fuss. It is too early to say yet but Offaly played very well for a good forty minutes or so and it could be a campaign changing afternoon – they have been stuttering their way through the Tailteann Cup campaign and this could very well ignite them into life as they face into the real business from here on.

Offaly's first half performance was not perfect but it ended up very much alright as a 1-14 to 0-2 lead had them in complete control.

They certainly caused anxious early moments for supporters as they kicked four wides in the first six minutes and were 0-2 to 0-1 behind after nine minutes. A great Dylan Hyland two pointer in the 10^th minute got Offaly ahead and they led by 0-6 to 0-2 after 17 minutes. They weren't going well at this stage, lacking energy but improved dramatically in the second quarter.

They were patient in their build up but turned over a huge amount of ball as New York didn't score from the 9^th minute to half time. Offaly left 2-4 or more behind them in the first half as Keith O'Neill was wide with a great chance and Jack Bryant, below his best, passed straight to a New York player when trying to send O'Neill in, though he could have taken it on himself.

Still the scores began to flow over and New York just couldn't get their hands on the ball for any concerted spell. Jordan Hayes booted over a spectacular two pointer and Dylan Hyland got the third with a free off the ground as Offaly opened up a 0-14 to 0-2 gap by the 31^st minute.

They got in for a for a very fortunate 33^rd minute goal to really open daylight. Dylan Hyland under cooked a fisted attempt at a point and it looked to be dropping harmlessly into the net when it hit the upright and he booted the rebound to the net for a very decisive looking 15 point half time lead.

It would have taken a calamity for Offaly to cough that up and it never looked like happening. They just needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over and they more than did this as they added 1-11 in the second half.

The way they controlled the game in the fifteen minutes after the resumption was the most pleasing aspect of the afternoon for them. They were very solid as they continued to drive forward and never gave New York a hint of an opening of a fightback.

Early second half points from Keith O'Neill and sub Shane Tierney told the visitors that this wasn't going to be the day when they took a scalp in Ireland. Ruari McNamee came off the bench and impressed again, slotting home 1-2 between the 48^th and 54^th minutes as Offaly opened up a 2-20 to 0-5 lead.

As they emptied the bench, Offaly fell asleep for a few minutes after this and conceded 1-6 without reply. The goal was a sensational strike from Bobby O'Regan and it actually represented a fairly serious collapse by Offaly who just stopped working and their error count crept way too high. They didn't gather fairly bread and butter ball, were turned over and New York could have got another couple of goals – Paddy Dunican made a great save from Killian Butler and Eoghan McElliott rattled the crossbar with a great shot as New York fought hard to salvage their pride.

Even had those goals went in, it wouldn't have rescued New York and their revival was only primarily of interest to the bookmakers and their handicap odds – 10 points before the game game and fifteen at half time. As it was, Offaly exceeded that fifteen point barrier thanks mainly to the magnificent Dylan Hyland who got sick of the malaise inflicting his team mates, went at the opponents and kicked five late points, three lovely scores from play and a two point free with the last kick of the afternoon.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dylan Hyland (Offaly): A very straightforward choice here as Dylan Hyland produced his best display of the year, and by a distance. His first half display was especially crucial as he settled Offaly when they were finding things hard. His brilliant two pointer got them going as he scored 1-7 in the first half. When New York rallied late on and got a few scores, Hyland stopped the messing with a few very nice points as well as the last score from a two point free and his influence was just massive here. His work rate was exemplary as he turned over a lot of ball – in this form, Hyland is a huge asset to Offaly and he showed no ill effects from the recent groin injury that has restricted his game time.

Jordan Hayes was also a contender, getting four points from midfield, a few assists and carrying the ball very effectively.

There was an uplift in performance by other players with John Furlong having his best game of the Tailteann Cup campaign, defending well and also attacking much more menacingly than he had been. Cathal Flynn was also back on his game in a satisfactory Offaly display while Ruari McNamee did very well off the bench and Cillian Bourke went well against before being given a break when the game was in the bag – Bourke is sitting his Leaving Certificate at the moment while Cormac Egan returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a quad injury and Offaly had the luxury of giving him an early breather.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Dylan Hyland 1-12 (2 x 2pf, 1f and 1 2p), Ruari McNamee 1-2, Jordan Hayes 0-4 (1 x 2p), Cillian Bourke, Keith O'Neill 0-2 each, Kyle Higgins, Cormac Egan and Shane Tierney 0-1 each.

New York: Bobby O'Regan 1-3 (2f), Frank O'Reilly 0-3 (1 2pf and 1f), Jack Robinson 0-2, Kieran Murphy, Killian Butler, Michael Argue and Joe Hagan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks); Lee Pearson (Edenderry), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), Daire McDaid (Tullamore); Aidan Bracken (Ballycommon), John Furlong (Tullamore), Cormac Egan (Tullamore); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry); Kyle Higgins (Ferbane), Cathal Flynn (Ferbane), Cillian Bourke (Tullamore); Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks), Dylan Hyland (Raheen). Subs – Shane Tierney (Daingean) for Bryant (HT), Ruari McNamee (Rhode) for Bourke (46m), Rory Egan (Edenderry) for Egan (50m), Robbie Gallagher (Ballinagar) for O'Neill (52m), Aaron Leavy (Tullamore) for Higgins (52m)

NEW YORK: Joey Grace; Cian O'Dea, Sean Wilson, Shane Bolger; Bill Maher, Rob Wharton, Jack McKenna; Kieran Murphy, Gavin O'Brien; Shane Brosnan, Eoghan McElliott, Morgan Garry; Frank O'Reilly, Bobby O'Regan, Jack Robinson. Subs – Tadgh O'Riordan for Wilson (22m), Tiernan Mathers for Garry (HT), Michael Argue for McKenna (40m), Joe Hagan for Maher (50m), Killian Butler for O'Brien (55m),

Referee – David Murnane (Cork).

REFEREE WATCH

David Murnane had a good game. He was in control and there were no issues – he seemed to turn a blind eye to a couple of frees but it didn't matter here as Offaly had it won at that stage.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Dylan Hyland's 33^rd minute goal really took the bite out of this game. It was fortunate as he had made a mess of attempting to fist a point but it was falling into the net when it hit the post. He couldn't miss from close range and a 1-14 to 0-2 half time lead put the game well out of New York's reach.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was at its best and the game was well hosted with a small crowd in attendance.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly play a quarter-final next weekend.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 15 (11 in first half); New York – 6 (2 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; New York – 1 (Jack McKenna).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0