Disappointing display piles early season pressure on Offaly

Clare 1-13

Offaly 0-7

An ultimately very disappointing display saw Offaly suffer a thought provoking defeat when they opened their National Football League Division 2 campaign in Ennis on Sunday afternoon last.

The visitors fell away badly in the second half as they ended up resoundingly beaten by a decent but by no means brilliant Clare side.

It was a result and performance that suggests Offaly are in for a struggle in Division 2. Promoted from Division 3 last year, Offaly will fight hard to retain their status but this was a crucial game for them and they didn't perform for long enough or inflict enough damage when they were on top in the first half.

Offaly had first use of a strong wind in the first half and controlled much of the opening thirty five minutes. They retained possession well, making Clare look very mediocre for much of it and a win looked very possible. Yet at half time, Offaly were in trouble. A 0-5 to 0-4 half time lead in no way reflected the way the first half had went and was never likely to be enough against the wind.

Offaly had been too cautious in the first quarter, taking a bit much out of the ball and playing it back and forth across the half back line. However, once they got a bit braver, they began to ask questions of Clare, creating chances and playing some good football.

Bernard Allen was superb in the first half, firing over three excellent points while Ruari McNamee and Dylan Hyland also got quality scores as Offaly led by 0-5 to 0-1 after 23 minutes. It was set up for Offaly to push on but instead this was the high point of the afternoon for them. It all went downhill from here as Clare got three points to reduce it to just a point at half time – and it took a goal line save from Dylan Hyland to deny Alan Sweeney a 25th minute goal.

Offaly knew they had their work cut out at the break and they geared up defensively for the second half as they replaced two forwards, Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan at half time with two defenders, David Dempsey and Declan Hogan.

Unfortunately Offaly's plans of curtailment were gone out the window within two minutes. Darragh Bohannon got in for a fine goal less than two minutes after the restart and the writing was on the wall for Offaly. Eoin Cleary added a free before Lee Pearson flew forward to settle Offaly with a beautifully floated 43rd minute point. Clare, however, smelt blood and went for the jugular. They began to pick off outstanding points from distance and had gone four points clear by the 45th minute.

Offaly tried to stem the tide but never looked like rescuing the game and never opened up the home side. Instead, Clare had the points in the bag from a long way out. They were 1-9 to 0-6 clear when Paddy Dunican got Offaly's final point from a free in the 67th minute. In the remaining minutes, it verged into embarrassing territory as Clare got the final four points and ended up very clearcut winners.

Offaly could pay a price for the scale of the defeat as scoring difference could come into play and they have vast room for improvement, Management and players deserve patience and a break as they introduce members of last year's All-Ireland U-20 winning side – Lee Pearson started here while Cormac Egan, Jack Bryant and Rory Egan came on as subs. Division 2 is a step up for them and they shouldn't be judged for a while.

Manager John Maughan, however, won't be dressing up this substandard display when he addresses it with his squad this week. It was mildly encouraging at times in the first half, but overall, it was not good enough. There was a good level of effort but there is a huge body of work ahead for this squad.

Full back James Lalor was Offaly's best player, tackling very efficiently and moving the ball well.. Ruari McNamee and especially Bernard Allen impressed in the first half but the Offaly attack only managed two points in the second half and these came from defenders. They really didn't look like scoring a whole lot more either. Johnny Moloney and Jordan Hayes carried a lot of ball while Dylan Hyland had good moments in the first half.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cillian Brennan (Clare): Clare's defence were very good and full back Cillian Brennan was typical of the way they played. He worked well in the first half when Offaly were exerting pressure, getting out for the ball and driving forward well. He continued to prosper under much less pressure in the second half,

THE SCORERS

Clare: Keelan Sexton 0-4 (4f), Eoin Cleary 0-3 (2f), Darragh Bohannon 1-0, Pearse Lillis and Jamie Malone 0-2 each, David Tubridy and Ciaran Downes 0-1 each.

Offaly: Bernard Allen 0-3, Lee Pearson, Dylan Hyland, Ruari McNamee and Paddy Dunican (f) 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

CLARE: Stephen Ryan; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Cillian Rouine; Cian O'Dea, Ciaran Russell, Alan Sweeney; Cathal O'Connor, Darren O'Neill; Darragh Mohannon, Eoin Cleary, Pearse Lillis; Aaron Griffin, Keelan Sexton, David Tubridy. Subs – Padraic Collins for Tubridy (54m), Eoghan Collins for Rouine (54m), Jamie Malone for Griffin (57m), Ciaran Downes for Russell (64m), Mark McInerney for O'Neill (71m).

OFFALY: Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks); Lee Pearson (Edenderry), James Lalor (Raheen), Niall Darby (Rhode); Ciaran Donnelly (Bracknagh), Johnny Moloney (Tullamore), Cian Donohue (St Brigid's); Jordan Hayes (Edenderry), Cathal Mangan (Kilclonfert); Bill Carroll (Cappincur), Anton Sullivan (Rhode), Dylan Hyland (Raheen); Bernard Allen (Tubber), Niall McNamee (Rhode), Ruari McNamee (Rhode). Subs – Cormac Egan (Tullamore) for Carroll (33m), David Dempsey (Ballycommon) for Sullivan (HT), Declan Hogan (Tullamore) for Niall McNamee (HT), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) for Hyland (48m), Colm Doyle (Clara) for Pearson, inj. (64m), Rory Egan (Edenderry) for Mangan, inj. (73m).

Referee – Brendan Griffin (Kerry).