Fighting spirit not enough to save Offaly from “B” championship
BRAVERY and fighting spirit were not enough to save Offaly from an early exit in the Leinster U-20 Football Championship on Tuesday evening in Newtownforbes.
Leinster U-20 Football Championship Group 1 Round 3
Longford 0-10
Offaly 0-9
Offaly fought with everything to stay alive, chasing the game like men possessed down the straight but they could have no complaints at the defeat as Longford were the better team overall on the evening.
As things worked out, even a win would not have kept Offaly in it as Kildare's win in Louth would have put them through on scoring difference.
Offaly gave it their best shot on the day but once again failed to hit double figures in points and that is why they are gone. They hit six, eight and now nine points in their three games and that type of scoring return simply won't suffice.
And the fact that goalkeeper Conor Melia was Offaly's top scorer with three points, two of them from play, tells its own story. Not only that but he also made three outstanding early saves to keep Offaly alive when they danced with danger. The Bracknagh man saved superbly from Brian Mulvey, Caolan Lynch and Paddy Moran in the first ten minutes and had Longford converted even two of those gilt edged chances, the game would probably have been over.
Longford did impress as the better side in the first half. Robbie Gallagher had given Offaly the lead after 20 seconds but Longford were 0-3 to 0-1 up after eleven minutes and went onto lead by 0-7 to 0-4 at half time.
That scoreline was a fair reflection of the first half and Offaly were glad to be only three points behind at the break.
A Melia free and Cillian Bourke point had Offaly 0-8 to 0-6 behind after 41 minutes. Longford led by 0-9 to 0-6 and 0-10 to 0-7 after 45 and 50 minutes and Offaly were doing well to hang in there.
Even though the game was slipping from them, their work rate remained high and they continued trying to do the right thing. Points from subs, Ben Kennedy and Cillian Foran (free) brought it down to a point with a minute to go and Offaly pushed forward relentlessly.
Unfortunately, they couldn't break down Longford and manufacture an equaliser, bringing an end to a Leinster championship in which they recorded a fantastic win over Kildare but never truly looked like they were going to make progress.
Now they will have to regroup for a knockout B championship and hopefully they will give that a go and try and get something from the season.
There was no disputing the honesty of Offaly and they defended well here against a dangerous looking Longford attack. They did well to concede only 10 points but scoring was once again a problem for them.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Matthew Carey (Longford): A choice between Offaly goalkeeper Conor Melia and Longford attacker Matthew Carey. Melia was outstanding for Offaly again, making the saves and showing great composure on the ball. Carey, however, was the best player on the field. Three of his seven points came from play and he was excellent as a link man in open play.
For Offaly, Dylan Kilmurray had a really good game in defence, Chruistian McKeon impressed there again with Geordi O'Meara good on the ball, Cillian Bourke did a lot of good things at midfield and Niall Furlong also showed his class as he moved a lot of ball through his hands.
THE SCORERS
Longford: Matthew Carey 0-7 (4f), Jamie Brady-Hynes 0-2 (1 mark), Paddy Moran 0-1.
Offaly: Conor Melia 0-3 (1f), Robbie Gallagher 0-2 (1f), Cillian Bourke, Steven Doran, Cillian Foran (f) and Ben Kennedy 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
OFFALY: Conor Melia (Bracknagh); Diarmaid O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Christian McKeon (Clara), Dylan Kilmurray (Rhode); Dylan Byrne (Edenderry), Geordi O'Meara (Ballinagar), Luke Bourke (Tullamore); Cillian Bourke (Tullamore), Marcas Dalton (Clara); Ross Kellaghan (Rhode), Niall Furlong (Tullamore), Steven Doran (Ballinamere); Sean Afolabi Joseph (Tullamore), Robbie Gallagher (Ballinagar), Luke Kelly (Doon). Subs – Ben Kennedy (St Brigid's) for Kelly (30m), Cillian Foran (Edenderry) for Kellaghan (52m), Eoin Smith (Rhode) for Gallagher (55m), Cian O'Reilly (Daingean) for Doran (59m).
LONGFORD: Oisin McManus; Conor Smith, Ruairi O’Toole, Eoghan Williams; Gavin Farrelly , Andrew Flynn, Matthew Flynn; Jonathan Burke, Oisin Flynn; Brian Mulvey, Matthew Carey, Paddy Moran; Michael Flynn, Caolan Lynch, Jamie Brady-Hynes. Subs – Sean Smith for Mulvey (49m), Jack Belton for Oisin Flynn (50m), Harry Kiernan for Brady-Hynes (56m).
Referee- Ultan McElroy (Louth).
REFEREE WATCH
Ultan McElroy let the play run and was very fair. There were a couple of debatable decisions here and there but these balanced out. Offaly can't complain too much – Niall Furlong picked up an early yellow and could have got a second one after fouling a few times but he got the benefit of the doubt.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
No really big moment that stood out. Paddy Moran's closing point for Longford in the 56th minute ultimately gave Longford the win.
VENUE WATCH
Clonguish provided a nice, intimate setting for this match and it was well hosted.
WHAT'S NEXT
Both Offaly and Longford go into the knockout B championship.
STATISTICS
Wides: Offaly - 6 (1 in first half); Longford – 5 (2 in first half).
Yellow cards: Offaly – 1 (Niall Furlong); Longford – 2 (Andrew Flynn and Michael Flynn).
Black cards: 0
Red cards: 0