Offaly show great maturity to qualify with professional demolition of Kildare
Dublin win puts Offaly into All-Ireland quarter-finals
WITH things falling into place for them in Parnell Park, Offaly fulfilled their end of the bargain with a very mature, professional display to qualify for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 5
Offaly 1-29
Kildare 0-15
Needing Dublin to beat Kilkenny, Offaly had to make sure of the win themselves and after an uncertain opening quarter, that was never in the slightest of doubts against an already relegated Kildare in their final group game in Newbridge.
Dublin's victory eliminated a fast declining Kilkenny but Offaly have qualified very much on merit after a very encouraging campaign in which they have taken giant steps forward. Draws with Dublin and Kilkenny and wins over Wexford and Kildare have earned Offaly third place in the group and a tilt at the beaten Munster finalists in a month's time.
They have exceeded expectations in this campaign, continuing the upward trajectory that they have embarked on under Johnny Kelly's guidance and in many ways, this win and performance shows how far they have come.
There was pressure here and a defeat would have ended the year on a real downer but Offaly didn't panic when they didn't fully fire early on, taking control and they had their win wrapped up early in the second half with supporters able to concentrate on what was happening a few miles up the road for the closing quarter.
Offaly would have won anyway but a red card for Kildare midfielder, Cathal McCabe for an off the ball clash that left Ciaran Burke on the ground ended the game as a contest two minutes into the second half. Kildare were just four points behind, 0-14 to 0-10 at that stage but were at nothing from here to the finish, displaying all the hallmarks of a team with nothing to play for.
Opting to play against the wind in the first half, Offaly took a while to settle and were two points behind after five minutes. They were level at 0-3 and 0-4 each in the next few minutes with Ter Guinan and Conor Doyle missing goal chances, a half one in Doyle's case. A free from the deadly accurate Eoghan Cahill gave Offaly the lead for the first time in the 14th minute and while Cian Boran levelled it up, the visitors were in control more or less from here to the finish.
They got three in a row to lead by 0-8 to 0-5 after 18 minutes, another run of four without reply out them 0-12 to 0-7 ahead after 29 minutes. They fell asleep for a few minutes, conceding three sloppy points but an Eoghan Cahill free gave them a 0-13 to 0-10 half time lead and that was always going to be a winning advantage with the wind to come.
McCabe's dismissal left Kildare a mountain to climb and it became insurmountable with a calamitous 43rd minute goal when Paddy McKenna was dispossessed by Brian Duignan who tapped it into an empty net. Offaly had 1-16 on the board when Jack Sheridan got Kildare's first second half point, their 11th with a 45th minute free.
It was all academic as Offaly began to find their range from all over the place. Dan Bourke and Brian Duignan got excellent points as Offaly hit the 20 point mark by the 50th minute.
The last twenty minutes was a bit of a non event. Kildare went through the motions but little more and Offaly reached 29 points without hitting fifth gear.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Colin Spain (Offaly): Offaly had a lot of players who performed at a high level. Once again Eoghan Cahill staked a powerful claim in the attack, scoring 1-13 with four from play. He has injected a new level of work rate into his play and that is the making of the Birr marksman who has really grasped his chance in recent weeks.
Colin Spain is the choice on this occasion. Starting because of an injury to Dan Ravenhill, he showed fantastic hunger, fighting for everything. He got three points, two in the first half but worked his socks off, ran himself into the ground on a very hot day. He mopped up a lot of breaks and the quality of his passing caught his eye.
Ciaran Burke and Ross Ravenhill were outstanding in defence, Cathal King gave good assistance to Spain at midfield. Dan Bourke was also superb in the attack, scoring four points and moving with dangerous intent. Some of his play and movement was a joy to watch as the other forwards also played very well in spells.
THE SCORERS
Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 1-13 (9f), Brian Duignan 1-2, Dan Bourke 0-4, Colin Spain 0-3, Shane Rigney 0-2, Ciaran Burke, Ter Guinan, Conor Doyle, Ciaran Cleary, David Nally 0-1 each.
Kildare: Jack Sheridan 0-5 (4f), Cian Boran and Darragh Melville 0-2 each, Conan Boran, Simon Leacy, Cathal McCabe, Muiris Curtin, Tim Ryan, Paul Dolan 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
OFFALY: Liam Hoare (Carrig-Riverstown); Ciaran Burke (Durrow), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Patrick Taaffe (Belmont); Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's), Conor Doyle (Clara), Dan Bourke (Durrow); Eoghan Cahill (Birr), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Oisin Kelly (Belmont) for Guinan, inj. (23m), David Nally (Belmont) for Rigney (59m), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Taaffe (61m), Eoin Burke (Coolderry) for Screeney (61m), Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone) for Duignan (63m),
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O'Meara; Conan Boran, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, Cathal McCabe; Jack Travers, Cathal Dowling, Gerry Keegan; Darragh Melville, Muirin Curtin, Jack Sheridan. Subs – Richy Hogan for Keegan (40m), Tim Ryan for Curtin (46m), Paul Dolan for Dowling (51m), Conn Kehoe for Hogan (55m), Evan O'Briain for Travers (61m),
Referee – Michael Kennedy, Tipperary.
REFEREE WATCH
Michael Kennedy had a good game, getting the vast majority of calls right. Cathal McCabe got red for an off the ball clash with Ciaran Burke but that was given after the referee consulted with his officials and was presumably right. Offaly supporters shouted for another red moments later when Conan Boran stopped Adam Screeney in his tracks but a yellow was sufficient.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Kildare were fighting a losing battle anyway but the 37th minute red card for Cathal McCabe really knocked the resistance out of them and it was not long before Offaly were in cruise control.
VENUE WATCH
St Conleth's Park was in fine condition with a good crowd created a fine atmosphere, the vast majority from Offaly There was an old style feel to it for Offaly supporters with a big turnout in tribute to the team's efforts. They provided a great array of colour and noise and it was great to see this.
Offaly's midfielders Colin Spain and Cathal King wore the wrong numbers in the first half and that shouldn't happen. They changed back to the right numbers for the second half and this was the right thing to do, though it did add to the confusion for the spectators who had spotted the original mistake.
WHAT'S NEXT
Kildare are relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup while Offaly qualify for the All-Ireland quarter-finals thanks to Dublin's win over Kilkenny.
STATISTICS
Wides: Offaly - 9 (1 in first half); Kildare - 12 (8 in first half).
Yellow cards: Kildare – 2 (Conan Boran, Cathal Dowling); Offaly 0.
Black cards:
Red cards: Kildare – 1 (Cathal McCabe); Offaly – 0.