Offaly do just enough to book place in knockout stages

OFFALY made hard work of things as they did just enough to get the better of Meath in their second game in the Leinster U20 Hurling Championship at Kildalkey on Thursday evening.

Leinster U20 Hurling Championship Tier 1 Group 2 Round 2

Offaly 2-18

Meath 3-11

After a great win over Laois on Saturday, this was a stuttering, unconvincing display but an honest group of players got the the result to book their place in the knockout stages – the final round at home to Dublin will determine who tops the group and goes direct into the semi-finals.

With two wins out of two, Offaly have ticked all their boxes and are where they want to be but they have plenty of improving to do if they are to progress much further. They were the better team here and deserved to win but they left the door open for Meath late on and could very easily have been caught. They got away with it and had just enough of a cushion not to cause palpitations among the Offaly mentors late on.

Playing against the wind in the first half, Offaly didn't go well and the 1-7 each half time score was a fair reflection of the way it went.

They were determined and hard working but didn't produce any real momentum or concerted pressure. The visitors were 0-4 to 0-2 up after fourteen minutes. Meath got it back to level terms but 1-1 in a minute in the 20th-21^st minutes gave Offaly the initiative. Liam O'Riordan batted home the goal when Patrick Lyons' shot dropped short but Offaly didn't build on that.

A 24^th minute goal from Kyle Ennis brought Meath right back into it and they were 1-7 to 1-6 ahead with the half nearly up. Odhran Fletcher's free levelled it up at the break and Offaly still had plenty to do in the second half.

Offaly played their best hurling at the start of the second half. Liam O'Riordan (2), Odhran Fletcher (2 frees) and Gearoid Maher got quick points, Patrick Lyons nipped in for a 35^th minute goal after Meath goalie Conor Cummins batted out Andrew Hogan's delivery, and sub Darragh Scully added a point as Offaly opened up a 2-13 to 1-7 lead.

It should have been all over but Offaly got a bit complacent and sloppy, allowing Meath back into it. The home side got a 39^th minute penalty goal from Louis McIvor after Ajay Cleary pulled back Darren O'Higgins. Cleary got a black card and Meath took advantage. The very fast Patrick Jordan got a 41^st minute goal and by the time Cleary came back on, Offaly's lead was just three, 2-15 to 3-9.

Fine points from Sean Carey and Odhran Fletcher eased Offaly's nerves but Meath kept coming. A McIvor free and Jordan point reduced the gap to three and they had a chance. Mark Leavy missed a free just after they had taken their free taker McIvor off and a super injury time free from out on the left wing from Fletcher gave Offaly a safe four point lead.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Liam O'Riordan (Offaly): Liam O'Riordan gets the nod, just ahead of Andrew Hogan and Patrick Lyons. O'Riordan had a super first half against Laois and was very effective here again. He scored 1-2 but it was his work rate, hard hitting and honesty that commanded complete respect here.

Hogan got a couple of inspirational points when Offaly needed them and sent in good deliveries, though he was in bother when turned a couple of times and forced to chase forwards back. Lyons was also in fine form up front, showing well and gathering most ball that came his way, though he had a couple of wides.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Odhran Fletcher 0-8 (7f), Liam O'Riordan 1-2, Andrew Hogan 0-3 (1f), Patrick Lyons 1-1, Mark Mulrooney, Gearoid Maher, Darragh Scully and Sean Carey 0-1 each.

Meath: Louis McIvor 1-8 (goal from a penalty and 5f), Patrick Jordan and Kyle Ennis 1-1 each, Darren O'Higgins 0-1.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Matt Watkins (Ballyskenach-Killavilla); Sean Og Foley (Doon), Joey McLoughlin (Coolderry), Caelum Larkin (Carrig-Riverstown); Andrew Hogan (Coolderry), James O'Sullivan (Shinrone), Harry Sweeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Sean Carey (Seir Kieran), Ajay Cleary (Coolderry); Mark Mulrooney (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Liam O'Riordan (Ballyskenach-Killavilla), Gearoid Maher (Shinrone); Odhran Fletcher (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Patrick Lyons (Drumcullen), Conor Egan (Shamrocks). Subs – Darragh Scully (St Rynagh's) for Larkin (HT), Brian Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Egan, inj. (34m), James Hennessy (Drumcullen) for Carey (60m).

MEATH: Conor Cummins; Brian Stagg, Adam O'Donoghue, Alex Fox; Anthony Healy, Jack McKeown, Fergal Flynn; Finn Conroy, Edward Dunne; Louis McIvor, Mark Leavy, Cathal Barron; Darren O'Higgins, Kyle Ennis, Patrick Jordan. Subs – Joey Christie for Barron (49m), Luca Taheny for Dunne (54m), Callum Buckley for McIvor (57m).

Referee – Dean Alford, Dublin.

REFEREE WATCH

Dean Alford refereed it fairly and consistently. Cathal Barron was fortunate to get yellow and not red for a heavy hit on Conor Egan in the 34^th minute. Barron lined up Egan as he moved forward from midfield and while the Shamrocks man was open, the challenge ended his evening with his shoulder strapped after it.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Offaly's second goal from Patrick Lyons in the 35^th minute was a soft one but gave them enough of a cushion to get home.

VENUE WATCH

Kildalkey was a fairly primitive venue in terms of intercounty fare with little in the way of spectator facilities. It was, however, a nice ground and the fixture was well hosted.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly host Dublin on April 22.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 7 (3 in first half); Meath – 10 (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 2 (Andrew Hogan and Harry Sweeney); Meath – 3 (Edward Dunne, Cathal Barron and Louis McIvor).

Black cards: Offaly – 1 (Ajay Cleary); Meath – 0.

Red cards: 0