Repeat win in Belfast would lift early pressure for Offaly footballers

THE National Football League Division 3 campaign started off more or less as we expected on Sunday when a hard working and honest performance was not enough to prevent defeat against Westmeath in Tullamore.

Westmeath were vulnerable and there was a definite opportunity there for Offaly to record a morale boosting win but they did not play well enough on the day in a 1-11 to 0-10 defeat. The game was lost in two distinct spells in each half.

Offaly started very well, quickly getting up to the pace of the game and they were the better side for the opening quarter. However, they conceded 1-4 without reply as they trailed by 1-8 to 0-5 at half time. With the wind to come, that six point deficit was not disastrous and they got the gap back to three points twice in the second half. Unfortunately Offaly couldn't push on from there and they only managed one point in the closing twenty minutes. That was the most disappointing aspect of the performance and manager Declan Kelly reflected afterwards:

“We probably started off fairly good in the first ten or 15 minutes. We got to the pitch of it quick enough and probably left a few scores behind us in that period of time. The last ten or 15 the first half we stood off Westmeath and they cut through us quite easily in that period. They got the goal and probably three or four points without us getting our hands on the ball. We looked at that at half time and we pushed up on them and didn't stand off them and the second half was probably 50/50 overall but still we left a few scores behind us again.”

Now Offaly face a tough trip to Belfast next Sunday to play Antrim. They beat Antrim up there last year and really need a win to get their campaign up and running and cut off any impending early pressure before it gathers intensity.

Offaly will be down players on Sunday next. Last year's captain Declan Hogan is injured while Dylan Hyland has another game to go in his three match suspension – Hyland's energy, work rate and general forward play is a big loss. Jack McEvoy, a midfield option, is also out and Kelly does not expect to see those three in action in February.

“We will probably know a bit more towards the end of February but they are not going to be available for the next couple of games,” he confirmed.

On the plus side Peter Cunningham made an earlier than predicted return from a knee operation, coming on as a first half sub on Sunday and playing and moving sufficiently well to suggest that he could start.

Antrim will provide a very interesting indication of where Offaly are at the moment. The Ulster side had a good win over Limerick last Sunday and a trip to Belfast is always a challenging proposition. While Offaly played very well up there last year, they have lost more than their share and Kelly is under no illusions about the challenge.

“We were up there last year and won by a point, a kick of a ball. Division three is going to be like that. You play your first two games and see where you are. By round five you will have played three in a row and you’ll have a fair handle on who is in the running for promotion and relegation.”

Staying up in Division 3 is the first priority for Offaly but they would love to get into the promotion race. To do so, however, they need to pick up early points and Sunday's game does represent a real opportunity for Offaly.

They have a week break after it and then follow up with games on successive weekends against Clare, Down and Wicklow. To have any chance of promotion, Offaly would have to have six points from their first five games and ideally they would need eight – Westmeath and Down are now the clear front runners in the division and Offaly have to travel to Newry to play Down.

It is a learning process for Offaly and a couple of changes is probable from the team that started against Westmeath. There will be a definite temptation to start Peter Cunningham while Ruari McNamee and Keith O'Neill will be considered, among others.

At the same time, Offaly need to give time to some of the players making the step up last Sunday. John Furlong looked completely at home in the heart of the defence while Cathal Flynn and Cormac Egan are well worth another game.

Flynn started very well last Sunday before losing his way while some very good off the ball runs by Egan were not rewarded with possession. Offaly have to get Egan more on the ball in games and to see if his blistering pace can open up defences – to do that, they have to move the ball quicker than they are doing. Cathal Donoghue didn't really get into it last Sunday but has the potential to play very well.

The team will be probably be announced on Friday evening and there is pressure on Offaly for this game. That is there for every match at this level but the stakes are considerable here as the result has such a big bearing on whether Offaly are in the promotion race or relegation dogfight.

They are well capable of winning again and have a great chance but to get the points, they need to drive at teams a bit more and show more pace on the ball from the half back line up.