Offaly keep promotion charge on track with hard earned win over Westmeath

Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B Round 5

OFFALY 1-22

WESTMEATH 0-19

OFFALY put themselves on the brink of promotion to Division 1 A of the Allianz Hurling League after they battled to a hard earned six point victory over Westmeath at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore on Sunday.

After the highs of their victory over Dublin at Croke Park the previous weekend, Offaly were made to fight all the way by their neighbours in this game and it was only in the dying minutes that they eventually put the game out of their reach.

Despite getting a good start when they went five points up by the 10th minute, Offaly found it hard to get into their rhythm. Westmeath settled into the game and had forced their way in front by the 22nd minute. Offaly were relying on Brian Duignan, who scored all their first half points, and he hit four in a row to put them back in front but Westmeath, backed by the breeze, finished the first half well with five points without reply to lead by 0-14 to 1-9 at the break.

Offaly had a job to do in the second half and they quickly set about it, levelling inside the first two minutes. They hit seven points without reply before Westmeath got their first score of the half after 15 minutes. They pushed the lead out to six points with 11 minutes to go and it looked like it was game over but Westmeath didn't give up and three Killian Doyle points left just a goal in it again. Offaly dug in and hit four of the last five points to seal a six point win.

Offaly now have a three week break before their last group game away to Waterford and at this stage it would probably take an extraordinary sequence of results to deny them promotion. Indeed it could be secured before they play again as they have a bye in round 6 and depending on results that day they could know their fate before heading to Dungarvan for that final game.

The first half of this game turned into a bit of a shoot out between Brian Duignan and Killian Doyle. The Offaly man scored all of his side's nine points in the first half, two from play, while Doyle matched that tally exactly for Westmeath. Both of them added five more each after the break.

Westmeath played the ball about well in the first half and took their scores well. They were threatening in attack and Offaly had their hands full. In contrast Offaly were working the ball well up the field but it wasn't sticking well enough in the forward line and came back out again quickly.

Offaly got more on top with the wind in the second half. Five more players joined Brian Duignan in hitting points from play but they still couldn't quite shake off their opponents. When it looked like they had the job done, they seemed to ease up and let them back into the game, but they did enough to get over the line.

Westmeath deserve credit for the way they kept battling and had they taken a couple of second half goal chances, it could have been different but Mark Troy pulled off a couple of very sharp saves. Westmeath only managed five points in the second half, all from Killian Doyle and only one of those from play.

Along with Mark Troy, Ben Conneely made a welcome return to the Offaly defence where Ciaran Burke, James Mahon and Donal Shirley also played very well. Colin Spain had a fine second half at midfield while in attack Brian Duignan, Oisin Kelly and Dan Ravenhill contributed most.

Ciaran O'Brien did well in the Westmeath goals, Johnny Bermingham, Shane Williams and Robbie Greville battled hard in defence. Peter Clarke did well in the middle of the field while Killian Doyle was their main man in attack where Eamon Cunneen and David Williams also had their moments, moreso in the first half.

Offaly made the better start. After Brian Duignan (free) and Eamon Cunneen exchanged early points, the home side found the net in the fifth minute when Dan Ravenhill's cross was won by Killian Sampson and he closed in on goal before steering his shot to the net. Killian Doyle responded for Westmath but three Brian Duignan frees had Offaly 1-4 to 0-2 ahead by the 10th minute.

Westmeath then began to settle and three points from Killian Doyle (two frees) and another from Mark Cunningham cut the deficit to a point after four minutes. Brian Duignan pointed another Offaly free but Eamon Cunneen, David Williams (free) and Killian Doyle (free) put Westmeath ahead for the first time after 22 minutes.

That seemed to wake Offaly up and Brian Duignan hit four in a row in a three minute spell, two frees and Offaly's first points from play, to leave a goal in it again after 26 minutes. However Westmeath finished the half stronger. Three Killian Doyle frees brought them level before Niall O'Brien put them in front again and another huge Doyle free from well inside his own half gave Westmeath a 0-14 to 1-9 half time lead.

Dan Ravenhill pointed a long range free inside the first minute of the second half and Daniel Bourke then scored a fine point from the left sideline to level things up. Brian Duignan restored the lead from a free after five minutes and Oisin Kelly added another. Duignan pointed a '65' after his own shot had been deflected outside the post, and Colin Spain and Dan Ravenhill also raised white flags to leave Offaly five ahead 13 minutes into the seond half.

Westmeath threatened a goal but Mark Troy was out quickly to thwart Mark Cunningham but an advantage was being played and Killian Doyle pointed the free for Westmeath's first score of the half. They had a better goal chance six minutes later when Eamon Cunneen made a driving run and offloaded to Peter Clarke but Mark Troy made a fine save and Cunneen's follow up went wide.

Oisin Kelly then fired two in quick succession to put Offaly six clear and looking on the road for home but Westmeath kept coming and Killian Doyle pointed two frees followed by their only point from play in the second half and the gap was just a goal again heading into the final five minutes.

Brian Duignan eased the nerves from a free and then sub Ter Guinan dispossessed Westmeath goalied Ciaran O'Brien and took a return pass before popping the ball over the bar. Killian Doyle pointed another free but fittingly Brian Duignan scored the final two points of the game, one a free, to ensure Offaly maintained their unbeaten run.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Oisin Kelly, Daniel Bourke, Killian Sampson; Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan, Dan Ravenhill. Subs. David King (for Jason Sampson, half time), Cillian Kiely (for Daniel Bourke, 56 mins), Eoin Burke (for Dan Ravenhill, 65 mins), Ter Guinan (for Charlie Mitchell, 67 mins).

WESTMEATH: Ciaran O'Brien; Adam Ennis, Johnny Bermingham, Gary Greville; Shane Williams, Robbie Greville, Eoin Keyes; Davy Glennon, Peter Clarke; Niall Mitchell, Killian Doyle, Mark Cunningham; Eamon Cunneen, Niall O'Brien, David Williams. Subs. David O'Reilly (for Mark Cunningham, 51 mins), Joseph Boyle (for David Williams, 64 mins), Aaron Craig (for Dean Ennis, 64 mins), Rory Keyes (for Davy Glennon, 67 mins).

REFEREE: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)

MAN OF THE MATCH

It was a day when Offaly didn't always reach the heights of earlier games but Ciaran Burke and James Mahon had some very good moments in defence while the attack struggled at times. But Brian Duignan did stand out in that attack with 0-14, three of them from play. He was the only Offaly player to score a point in the first half and when the pressure was on he delivered for Offaly. From 12 placed balls he scored 11 and the other hit the post and his all round general play was good.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Offaly got themselves into a winning position in the third quarter when hitting seven points without reply to go five up but they then went 10 minutes without scoring and Westmeath came back into the game. Crucially in that period Mark Troy pulled off a terrific save from Peter Clarke to prevent a Westmeath goal that would have got them back within a point of Offaly with 15 minutes to play and who knows what might have happened if that went in.

REFEREE WATCH

Tipperary's Michael Kennedy is now one of the country's leading referees and he handled this game well. He dished out eight yellow cards and most of them were justified. The home crowd got on his back on occasion in the second half as they felt Westmeath were getting a lot of frees but in truth a lot of them were from lazy Offaly challenges, particularly in attack, when they let Westmeath off the hook with silly fouls. Overall he did a good job.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly have a bye in round 6 before travelling to Dungarvan to face Waterford in the final round of the campaign on Saturday March 22nd at 5pm Westmeath host Waterford in Mullingar in round 6 next Sunday at 2pm.

VENUE WATCH

On a lovely Spring day, O'Connor Park was in good condition. It was a little soft in places with the occasional odd bounce but overall the surface was fine. There was a decent crowd in for the game and all other arrangements were well in place as usual.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 5 (0 in first half) Westmeath 8 (4 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly (Jason Sampson, Ross Ravenhill, Brian Duignan, Donal Shirley) Westmeath 4 (Dean Ennis, David Williams, Eamon Cunneen, Eoin Keyes)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Brian Duignan (0-14, 0-10 frees, 0-1 '65'), Oisin Kelly (0-3), Killian Sampson (1-0), D Ravenhill (0-2, 0-1 free), Daniel Bourke, Colm Spain, Ter Guinan (0-1 each).

Westmeath; Killian Doyle (0-14, 0-11 frees), E Cunneen (0-2), M Cunningham, D Williams (0-1 free), N O'Brien (0-1 each).