Understrength Offaly lose out in excellent, high stakes opening round shootout

THAT they played a significant part in a tremendous game of football and gave a very good account of themselves will be of little consolation to Offaly after they suffered an opening round National Football League defeat in Tullamore on Sunday.

Allianz National Football League Division 2 Round 1

Louth 1-21

Offaly 0-19

Three points up at half time, 0-14 to 0-11, after playing with a stiff wind, Offaly were overhauled in the second half as an impressive Louth outscored them by 1-10 to 0-5.

Missing a handful of key players through injury, Offaly performed well and gave themselves a chance of winning it. They were still in contention when trailing by 1-18 to 0-18 with just over ten minutes left but even with that, a defeat looked inevitable and so it proved as Louth finally opened daylight late on.

It was an acceptable display for Offaly considering the absence of such crucial first team players as Paddy Dunican, John Furlong, Cathal Flynn and Dylan Hyland but a defeat is still a defeat and it puts huge early pressure on Offaly.

There may be a long way to go and plenty of opportunity to rescue things but this was close to a must win game for Offaly. It was a home one, marked down by most as a possible two points from the minute the schedule was released late last year. It was one that they really had to win and the defeat quickly brings relegation onto the table for them.

In reality, survival was always the limit of Offaly's ambitions in the higher division and they clearly have their work cut out. At the same time, there were plenty of positives to take from this. They attacked really well at times, were solid all over the field and kicked four sensational two pointers in a very good first half display.

They were, however, playing with a stiff wind and it was clear that the odds were against them for the second half. Keith O'Neill put them four up with a 38^th minute free but Louth soon turned the screw. After missing a handful of two point attempts earlier on, Louth finally found the range with two in quick succession from Conor Early and Craig Lennon in the 42^nd/43^rd minute.

That gave them a 0-16 to 0-15 lead. Cormac Egan levelled it up for Offaly after linking with brother Diarmuid but 1-1 in the 46^th minute put Louth on the road to victory, Dara McDonnell's point followed immediately by a clinically taken Sam Mulroy goal after Offaly's kickout was overturned.

Offaly were swimming against the tide from here top the final whistle. Points from Ciaran Murphy and Jordan Hayes had them three behind in the 50^th and 58^th minutes as they dug deep.

Louth didn't put them away for a long time but Offaly just didn't attack well enough in the second half. Whereas Louth regularly created chances in the first half against the wind, Offaly struggled to break the line and make openings in the second half. Instead, they relied on patient build ups but the energy just wasn't there and Louth's defence were extremely disciplined and efficient.

A few players went into the red in the second half and once again Offaly seemed reluctant to use their bench. This was a trend last year and while newcomers Sean Conway and Darragh Flynn were thrown on in the 59^th and 64^th minutes, Offaly had to work very hard against the wind and it all took a toll. It was perhaps crying out for the earlier introduction of subs and in the modern era, it is really a 20 man game.

Louth eventually opened a winning gap inside the closing ten minutes as points from Tadgh mcDonnell and Donal McKenny put five in it with nine minutes left and Offaly never looked like hauling that in.

The first half was a breathtakingly brilliant affair, full of terrific attacking football as both sides went at each other.

It made for tremendous viewing with Offaly doing well to lead by 0-14 to 0-11 at half time. It was a four to five point wind and Offaly were glad to have that lead as Louth attacked with real menace and did open up the Offaly defence on a few occasions. Fourteen points, 0-8 to 0-6, were kicked before Conall McKeever had the game's first wide in the 13^th minute and Offaly only had their first one four minutes later – and that only went wide as Dan Molloy slipped while going for Lee Pearson's punt in.

Offaly used the wind very well scoring four two pointers in that first half with Dan Molloy, Aaron Leavy, Ciaran Murphy and Keith O'Neill all hitting the target. It was superb shooting and Offaly's willingness to have a pop paid off – Aaron Leavy's two pointer in the fourth minute was a real bonus as he was on advantage and just had a pop at it from way out.

There was very little between the teams throughout. Offaly led y 0-6 to 0-3 after eight minutes with Sean O'Toole denying the excellent Craig Lennon with a fine save. Conor Grimes and Lennon brought it down to the minimum after 10 minutes but a delicious Keith O'Neill two pointer restored the three point lead.

The first half was a terrific advertisement for football under the new rules. Louth were level at 0-8 each after 20 minutes and once again Offaly responded with a two pointer, this time from Ciaran Murphy.

Louth were level once again, 0-11 each after 29 minutes but Offaly finished the half superbly with a Keith O'Neill free and points from play from Jordan Hayes and Eoin Sawyer giving them a three point interval lead.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Craig Lennon (Louth): Craig Lennon had a huge influence for Louth, scoring five points from wing back. His three half first half points kept them ticking over, he got a crucial two pointer in the second half and also defended superbly.

It was a decent, respectable performance by Offaly and they gave it their best shot. Several players had good spells and their first half display was a joy to watch at times.

THE SCORERS

Louth: Craig Lennon 0-5 (1 x 2p), Sam Mulroy 1-1 (1f), Peter Lynch, Dara McDonnell, Conor Early (1 x 2p), Paul Matthews, Ciaran Downey and Conor Grimes 0-2 each., Tadgh McDonnell, Donal McKenny and Ryan Burns 0-1 each.

Offaly: Keith O'Neill 0-5 (1 x 2p, 3f), Ciaran Murphy 0-4 (1 x 2p), Dan Molloy 0-3 (1 x 2p), Aaron Leavy (2p) and Jordan Hayes 0-2 each, Cormac Egan, Diarmuid Egan and Eoin Sawyer 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Sean O'Toole (Shamrocks); Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Cormac Egan (Tullamore), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry), Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Aaron Leavy (Tullamore); Ciaran Murphy (Skerries Harps), Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Rory Egan (Edenderry); Dan Molloy (St Brigid's), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks), Eoin Sawyer (Castleknock). Subs – Sean Conway (Ballycommon) for Molloy (59m), Darragh Flynn (Ferbane) for Bryant (64m).

LOUTH: Niall McDonnell; Emmett Carolan, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Conall McKeever, Peter Lynch, Craig Lennon; Dara McDonnell, Conor Early; Paul Mathews, Ciaran Keenan, Ciaran Downey; Conor Grimes, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns. Subs – Eoghan Callaghan for McKeever (25m), Tadgh McDonnell for Downey (53m), Kieran McArdle for Grimes (62m).

Referee – Barry Judge, Sligo.

REFEREE WATCH

Barry Judge had a good game. Louth seemed to win frees that small bit easier in the first half but it wasn't a huge factor. Referees are allowing a bit long for advantage at times and that is something that needs to be addressed.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Sam Mulroy's 46^th minute goal was a decisive moment. It gave Louth a 1-17 to 0-16 lead and that was enough of a gap to get home.

VENUE WATCH

There has been a lot of rainfall lately but you wouldn't have thought it looking at the O'Connor Park pitch. It looked very well and there was no issues with hosting the decent crowd. Louth supporters did seem to be in the majority and that should not have been the case. Offaly hurlers playing in Kilkenny at the same time was a definite factor in that and took away a nice few supporters who would normally be in Kilkenny. Offaly is a genuine dual county and the County Board really should ensure that fixtures clashes are avoided unless absolutely necessary – they do have some leeway when it comes to league fixtures being made and surely one of the games should have been played on the Saturday. Managers may not have wanted that with Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups going on and that is fair enough from their perspective but there are times when the County Board have to look at the broader picture and it was a pity to have these games clashing.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly travel to Kildare next Saturday.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 8 (5 in first half); Louth - 9 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: 0

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0