Improved Offaly perform well in encouraging win over second string Meath

A JANUARY O'Byrne Cup win over a very experimental Meath side signifies very little but there was still a lot to be happy with as Offaly qualified for a semi-final in Westmeath on Saturday.

O'Byrne Cup Senior Football quarter-final

Offaly 2-13

Meath 0-15

It was a definite, noticeable step up from Saturday's win over Carlow as Offaly performed well for the most part, apart from spells in the second half when they rocked precariously as Meath threatened to pull it out of the fire.

2-9 to 0-6 up at half time after an excellent first half, played with real pace and intensity, Offaly experienced an acute case of deja-vu as Meath struck for six second half points without reply to cut the deficit to just three points by the 36^th minute. Two of those were two pointers from Daithi McGowan (free) and Oisin Martin, bringing back nightmares from the championship last year when Offaly coughed up a big half time lead, conceding a spate of two point scores.

Ironically they should have killed the game off right at the restart when a fast improving new Dublin recruit, Ciaran Murphy did very well to breach the Meath cover but hit the post from close range as he tried to get a third Offaly goal.

Meath owned the ball for a few minutes with Offaly not able to break out of their half but Skerries Harps' club man, Murphy lifted the siege with an absolutely crucial 38^th minute point. That score settled Offaly back down and they were solidly efficient from here to the final whistle, always looking like they would have enough to win.

It would have been a different story if Meath had taken all their chances when they had Offaly on the back foot. Killian Smyth lost the ball with the goal at his mercy and they also spurned a good point chance in this spell of total dominance.

Murphy's relieving point was followed by a free from Jack Bryant, who also showed signs of rediscovering his best form after coming off the bench. Murphy fired over another quality point and Daire McDaid got a tap over one to give Offaly a 2-13 to 0-12 lead with 49 minutes gone.

That proved to be Offaly's last score but it gave them a sufficient cushion to repel Meath's best efforts. They got two points to reduce the gap to five but three poor wides in the same period kept them at arm's length.

Jack Bryant was wide with the type of free that you have to convert in high stakes football but Offaly defended well. They lived on their wits a bit and Meath were not far from getting back into it but they could only manage an injury time free from McGowan.

Offaly won the game with an excellent first half display. Some of the changes from the Carlow game worked to perfection with Jordan Hayes sensational in a new role at centre half back and Marcas Dalton much better in an attacking position on the half forward line. His Clara club mate Ed Cullen was a late call up for David Dempsey, playing a new position at full back – he did very well in this, was solid, did nothing wrong and may present a useful option here.

Offaly made a flying start with a super Cormac Egan goal helping them to a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after four minutes. Playing at corner forward, Egan ran straight down the necks of the Meath defence when he gained possession with open ground in front of him thirty metres out and with only one thing on his mind, he drove to the net.

Jordan Hayes ran the game to a large extent in the first half and he scored a spectacular 13^th minute goal to give Offaly a 2-3 to 0-3 lead. A two point free from Diarmuid Moriarty kept Meath alive but Offaly played some genuinely good, pleasing football in the first half and finished with all guns blazing for that 2-9 to 0-6 half time lead. Offaly could have been further ahead as Diarmuid Egan passed when he should have taken on a great goal chance himself five minutes from the break but that nine point cushion proved ample, despite Meath's brave second half fight back.

It was not perfect and Offaly were in panic stations for a few minutes at the start of the second half while the failure to score in the last twenty minutes plus injury time was the big blemish on their evening's work. Meath also had very few familiar players but it was important to win, Offaly played some very good football and these games will serve them well for the league.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jordan Hayes (Edenderry): For the second game in a row, the vote goes to an Edenderry man scoring freely from defence. It was Rory Egan in Carlow and it was Jordan Hayes here. Playing at centre back, he had a magnificent first half, scoring 1-4, including a two point free from an acute angle. He held the centre very well and oozed quality on the ball. Meath did make some inroads through the centre in the second half but Hayes continued to work hard, getting his hands on good ball at crucial moments and setting attacks in motion.

Lee Pearson also excelled in defence, especially going forward, while Jack McEvoy had a powerful, hard working game at midfield, putting in the hard yards. The attack moved very well at times and special mention has to be made of new recruit, Ciaran Murphy. He had a decent debut in Carlow but raised his performance level here, showing for and getting on more ball. He scored three fine points and looks like a very useful addition for Offaly.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Jordan Hayes 1-4 (1 x 2pf), Ciaran Murphy 0-3, Cormac Egan 1-0, Keith O'Neill 0-2 (1f), Daire McDaid, Rory Egan, Eoin Sawyer and Jack Bryant (f) 0-1 each.

Meath: Daithi McGowan (1 x 2pf and 3f) 0-6 Diarmuid Moriarty (1 x 2pf) 0-4, Oisin Martin (2p) and Darragh Campion 0-2 each, Rian Stafford 0-1.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Sean O'Toole (Shamrocks); Daire McDaid (Tullamore), Ed Cullen (Clara), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry), Rory Egan (Edenderry); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Aaron Leavy (Tullamore); Ciaran Murphy (Skerries Harps, Dublin), Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Marcas Dalton (Clara); Eoin Sawyer (Castleknock, Dublin), Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore), Cormac Egan (Tullamore). Subs – Dan Molloy (St Brigid's) for O'Neill (39m), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) for Sawyer (46m), Sean Conway (Ballycommon) for Diarmuid Egan (55m).

MEATH: Billy Hogan; Ciaran McCarrick, Gew Dwane, Shane Gibney; Killian Smyth, John O'Regan, James McEntee; Daithi McGowan, Bryan Menton; Cillian O'Sullivan, Oisin Martin, Jack O'Connor; Niall Finnerty, Diarmuid Moriarty, Darragh Campion. Subs – Dylan Garrigan for Campion (39m), Rian Stafford for McEntee (47m), Oran Mulvany for O'Sullivan (48m), Michael Gavin for Dwane (54m), Jack Swan for Gibney (58m).

Referee – Enda Kelly, Westmeath.

REFEREE WATCH

Enda Kelly refereed it very well, applying the rules consistently.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Jordan Hayes' 13^th minute goal was a quality strike, providing the launching pad for victory.

VENUE WATCH

Once again, the pride Gracefield take in their facilities was obvious to all visitors. With assistance from Offaly GAA officials, they had plenty of stewards and managed the fixture well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly go into the semi-finals against Westmeath away on Saturday.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 6 (2 in first half); Meath - (7 in first half).

Yellow cards: 0

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0