Hard working Offaly get huge early season boost with deserved win over Dubs

AN O'Byrne Cup win over what is effectively a third string Dublin signifies very little in the broader scheme of things but for a new management and a team searching for all positives, it represents a huge boost.

O'Byrne Cup Senior Football Round 3

Offaly 0-11

Dublin 0-8

Displaying a huge work ethic, showing great character, Offaly were full value for their three point win in Parnell Park, securing an unexpected semi-final berth in Louth this Sunday.

Considering the progress they have made, it is very ironic to note that Offaly almost pulled out of this competition before the start. Wrongly believing that college players could not play, they almost opted out but now they have received two hugely beneficial games and a third one in Dowdallshill on Sunday will give them another one as they prepare for the league opener in Antrim at the end of the month.

It is of course very early days but Offaly's early season fitness levels are impressive and more importantly, the players are hungry and are clearly responding well to new manager Liam Kearns.

Leading by 0-5 to 0-3 at half time, they kept their noses in front throughout the second half and were definitely the better team. Dublin were poor on the day, never generating true momentum or having extended spells of dominance but a lot of that was down to Offaly's work rate, their tackling and ability to turnover ball. This continued right to the end as Dublin chased a match saving goal.

There is still a long road ahead for Offaly but they have started very well and it augurs well for the Division 3 campaign. The football they are playing is encouraging. While it can be defensive and they can pull a lot of players back, they move forward very quickly when they do get the ball, quickly transferring the ball.

It was a big win for them, a real bonus and a lot of players are getting game time which is great. They looked like winning the whole way here and their work ethic never dwindled for one second.

Offaly competed very well in the first half and were in no way flattered by their 0-5 to 0-3 half time lead. While Dublin didn't click into gear at all in the first half, some of that was down to the intensity of Offaly's approach and their work rate.

Once again, they worked very hard, on and off the ball. They moved the ball quickly and immediately closed down opponents when they didn't have possession.

With Dylan Hyland operating very well in a sweeper type role, Offaly were able to win a lot of breaking ball in the middle third of the field. The sides were tied twice in the opening twenty minutes before quality scores from Dyland Hylan and Anton Sullivan put them 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 21 minutes.

Killian O'Gara, with Dublin's only point from play in the first half, and Hyland (free) exchanged points to leave Offaly two points to the good and they would have been in a better position had they taken a tenth minute goal chance. Anton Sullivan sent Cian Donohue in on goal with a sensational pass but Donoho's shot was deflected out for a '45' that Nigel Dunne sent wide – defender Donohoe was probably the wrong man in the right place for that chance and a goal would have really boosted Offaly.

As it was, thet were the better team in the first half and a morale boosting victory looked very possible at half time.

The second half was an engrossing affair. Dublin got it back to a point, 0-6 to 0-5 after 46 minutes but then points from Anton Sullivan and Nigel Dunne put Offaly three ahead with twenty left.

As both sides emptied their bench in the closing quarter, Offaly's work rate never dipped and they were able to maitain that three point gap to the final whistle.

Dublin couldn't get any closer than two and Offaly's ability to keep the score board ticking got them there. Bernard Allen put them four up in injury time to give breathing space and Dublin couldn't manufacture the goal they needed – Anton Sullivan received an injury time red card for a second yellow after getting into an unnecessary tangle with Paidi White who got yellow.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dylan Hyland (Offaly): Dylan Hyland had a second superb game for Offaly. Roving out to the middle, he swept up a lot of breaking ball and then tore forward at pace. He distributed very well, worked hard and got important scores from play and frees – his kicking was super and it was a real quality display by the Geashill man.. David Dempsey, Lee Pearson, Jack McEvoy and Anton Sullivan also excelled for Offaly on the evening. Credit also to a newcomer Kevin Nugent who put in a very honest shift at midfield before going off with a knock and is also clearly benefitting from the O'Byrne Cup games.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Dylan Hyland 0-5 (3f), Nigel Dunne and Anton Sullivan 0-2 each, Bernard Allen and Joe Maher (f) 0-1 each.\

Dublin: Killian O'Gara 0-4 (1f and 1m), Colm Basquel 0-2 (2f), Greg McEneaney and Ben Milst 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Ian Duffy (Walsh Island); Ciaran Donnelly (Bracknagh), Declan Hogan (Tullamore), David Dempsey (Ballycommon); Lee Pearson (Edenderry), Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh), Cian Donohue (St Brigid's); Kevin Nugent (Ferbane), Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue); Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks), Ruari McNamee (Rhode), Luke Egan (Tullamore); Nigel Dunne (Shamrocks), Anton Sullivan (Rhode), Dylan Hyland (Raheen). Subs – Conor McNamee (Rhode) for Cunningham, inj. (30m), Ruari O'Neill for O'Toole-Greene (HT), Bernard Allen (Tubber) for Dunne (50m), Joe Maher (Ferbane) for O'Neill, inj. (54m), Ed Cullen (Clara) for Nugent (60m), Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore) for Ruari McNamee (62m),Cormac Delaney (Clara) for Luke Egan (64m), Mark Abbott (Edenderry) for Hyland (71m).

DUBLIN: Hugh O'Sullivan; Conor Tyrrell, Sean MacMahon, Daire Newcombe; Adam Fearon, Greg McEneaney, CJ Smith; Peadar O'Cofaigh-Byrne, Adam Waddick; Kevin Lahiff, Alex Wright, Colm Basquel; Harry Ladd, Brian O'Leary, Killian O'Gara. Subs – David Byrne for Smith (HT), Ben Milst for Lahiff (43m), Darragh Conlon for MacMahon (45m), Luke Breatnach for Wright (45m), Karl Lynch-Bissett for Waddick (58m), Sean Kinsella for O'Leary (60m), Peter Duffy for O'Cofaigh-Byrne (62m), Dillon Keating for Ladd (63m), Paudi White for Tyrrell (68m),

Referee – Kieran Olwell (Meath).

REFEREE WATCH

A very solid display by Kieran Olwell on a difficult evening for football.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Nigel Dunne's super point in the 50th minute gave Offaly a three point lead at a crucial stage – it was his last action as he was replaced moments later.

VENUE WATCH

It was a very wintry evening in Parnell Park but the pitch held up well – there was surface water near the sidelines. Considering the evening, there was a nice sized crowd present.

TALKING POINT

The O'Byrne Cup is a very endangered species with counties withdrawing or threatening not to play in it because of availability of college players and a clash with the Sigerson Cup. Managers probably need to change their attitude a bit and use it as a competition for fringe players as it would be a shame if such a long standing competition bit the dust. The fixtures don't help, however, sometimes and an 8pm one in Dublin on a Wednesday night was far from ideal for Offaly.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly play Louth in the semi-final on Sunday in Dowdallshill.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 2 (1 in first half); Dublin – 9 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 3 (Jack McEvoy and Anton Sullivan 2); Dublin – 3 (Peadar O'Cofaigh-Byrne, David Byrne and Paudi White).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: Offaly – 1 (Anton Sullivan 2 yellows); Dublin – 0.