Novice Dublin outfit snatch win as Offaly lose way in second half
NO one will ask Offaly how they performed in the O'Byrne Cup at the end of the season but new manager Declan Kelly was still given some early season food for thought as his senior football side made a disappointing exit at the hands of Dublin in Saturday's quarter-final in Gracefield.
O'Byrne Cup Senior Football Competition quarter-final
Dublin 0-11
Offaly 0-10
The result does not matter one iota and the only game in town for Offaly is the National Football League later this month but they still should have been able to win this game against a very novice Dublin outfiit who fielded with no “recognisable face”.
For a long time, it looked like Offaly would coast to the win. They led by 0-6 to 0-2 at half time and when Cian Farrell extended the gap to five two minutes into the second half, it was simply impossible to envisage that they would not make a semi-final next Saturday.
Even when Dublin got the next two points to bring it back to three after 45 minutes, there was no cause for alarm and when Cian Farrell restored a four point gap, this time from a 51st minute free, it was theirs to lose.
Yet they did lose it and while credit has to be given to Dublin for the fighting spirit and drive they showed in the closing quarter, Offaly will require mirrors when they sit down to analyse how this slipped out of their grasp.
Dublin were energised by the introduction of a spate of subs, four of them at half time. They were a vastly better side with many of the subs on than they had been in the first half and they drove relentlessly at Offaly in the closing minutes. Four of their second half points came off the bench and this was a huge contribution but their movement and ability to open up Offaly also improved dramatically.
Offaly, however, have only themselvses to blame for this defeat. When they got five points and then four points up during the second half, they simply stopped playing. They had played with a decent level of energy and pace in the first half, driving at their opponents with more intent than they had in the first half of their win over Laois on Wednesday evening.
Once they got into a winning position though, they went back into their shell. They became cautious on the ball, pulled players back and they went into a “we will hold what we have” mode way too early.
By the time, they managed to stop the rot, it was almost too late and while it would have taken very little to have grabbed a draw and a penalty shootout here, they can't complain at the result.
From the 55th to the 61st minute, Dublin fired over four points without reply to level it up. Cian Farrell's free edged Offfaly back in front but then Dublin got three more in another blistering spell between the 66th and 68th minutes – Shane O'Leary's point should have been a goal in the 68th minute.
It was only then that Offaly woke up and went at their opponents once again. They had half chances. Cian Farrell was wide with a free and Anton Sullivan also blazed a wide before Farrell brought it down to the minimum a minute into injury time with a free. A further three minutes was played but Offaly couldn't break down Dublin. Daire McDaid, who once again impressed when introduced, had a shot that dropped short and Farrell missed another free, a difficult one from way out on the left. Dublin should have got a goal right at the end but the Offaly defence somehow scrambled it clear.
It didn't matter as the final whistle went moments later and Dublin did deserve their win for the way they played in the closing twenty minutes or so.
For forty minutes, Offaly gave a reasonably satisfactory display. They weren't anything special but they were playing steady, patient football, going at pace at times and moving the ball quicker. They were 0-3 to 0-1 up after 16 minutes and their 0-6 to 0-2 half time lead was a fair reflection of the pattern of play.
Offaly were clearly the better side in the first half, though some of this was down to the poverty of Dublin, who offered almost nothing until the second half. Dublin also picked up a black card for midfielder Peter Duffy two minutes from half time but Offaly didn't take advantage of this.
The defeat means that Offaly have a few weeks to regroup ahead of the league opener at home to Westmeath. This is a very honest group of players but them and the management won't need to be told that improvement will have to be made for the league.
Still, no panic buttons need be pressed yet. They have got two tough games in the O'Byrne Cup, played several young players and given chances to others. They are a work in progress and they and the management deserve time and patience.
David Dempsey was Offaly's best player here, as he manned the centre of defence very well for much of the 70 minutes plus, though Dublin did cut through the middle late on. Rory Egan had a very good game in defence and a mention has to be given to Adam Bolger. The Daingean man would not be known to the wider Offaly footballing public but he made a very decent debut as he defended well, used the ball with simple effectiviness and moved up the field – he made a couple of mistakes but this was new territory for him.
It was good to see Cathal Donoghue move with his old athleticism at midfield after a long injury battle while the Offaly attack struggled creatively and didn't generate any goal chance. Dylan Hyland went well in the first half but was taken off at half time while Ruari McNamee's work rate and tracking back was exemplary – Offaly also emptied their bench but unlike Dublin, didn't get any scores from the replacements.
A positive was that their discipline was better than in Stradbally when they were penalised on a number of occasions for dissent and that didn;t happen here.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ethan Dunne (Dublin): Dublin midfielder Ethan Dunne had a big influence on their win in the second half as he carried a lot of ball at the Offaly defence and also got the important equalising point in the 66th minute. David Dempsey was also a contender.
THE SCORERS
Dublin: Brian O'Leary 0-4 (2f), Cian Dunne (1f) and Killian McGinnis (1f) 0-2 each, Ethan Dunne, Ben Millist and Shane O'Leary 0-1 each.
Offaly: Cian Farrell 0-4 (3f), Dylan Hyland 0-3 (1f), Kevin McDermott, Ruari McNamere and Nigel Dunne (f) 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
OFFALY: Ian Duffy (Walsh Island); Adam Bolger (Daingean), Declan Hogan (Tullamore), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Rory Egam (Edenderry), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), John Furlong (Tullamore); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Cathal Donoghue (Oughterard); Dylan Hyland (Raheen), Cormac Egam (Tullamore), Kevin McDermott (Durrow); Ruari McNamee (Rhode), Cian Farrell (Edemderry), Nigel Dunne (Shamrocks). Subs - Jordan Quinn (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for McEvoy (HT), Nathan Poland (Erin Rovers) for Hyland (HT), Cathal Flynn (Ferbane) for Dunne (HT), Anton Sullivan (Rhode) for Cormac Egan (43m), Eoin Carroll (Cappincur) for Donoghue (50m), Daire McDaid (Tullamore) for Pearson (54m), Diarmuid Finneran (Ballinagar) for Hogan (57m), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) for McDermott (63m).
DUBLIN: David O'Hanlon; Liam Smith, Liam Howley, Eoin O'Dea; Robert Shaw, Alex Gavin, Rory Dwyer; Ethan Dunne, Peter Duffy; Conor Dolan, Brian O'Leary, Kevin Lahiff; Cian Dunne, Luke Swan, Sean Lowry. Subs – Sean Forker for Swan (HT), Killian McGinnis for Dolan (HT), Ben Milst for Dwyer (HT), Evan Comerford for O'Hanlon (HT), Eoin Wilde for Dunne (48m), Eoghan O'Connor-Flanagan for Shaw (49m), Killian Murphy for Howley (67m), Shane O'Leary for Lowry (67m),
Referee - Enda Kelly (Westmeath).
REFEREE WATCH
Enda Kelly had a good game and there were no issues about his handling of it.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Brian O'Leary's free to put Dublin a point up with two minutes left was a crucial moment.
VENUE WATCH
This game was played in Gracefield as there was an All-Ireland club junior game in O'Connor Park. They hosted the fixture with typical professionalism with loads of stewards on duty. There was a nice crowd here and they managed the traffic efficiently onto a busy road as well as inside the ground, where they are blessed with plenty of parking. Heavy overnight frost helped ensure that the pitch was in good order.
WHAT'S NEXT
Dublin are at home to Wexford in the semi-final next Saturday. Offaly have to wait for the league opener at home to Westmeath.
STATISTICS
Wides: Offaly – 10 (7 in first half); Dublin – 4 (2 in first half).
Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Dublin – 0.
Black cards: Offaly – 0; Dublin 1 (Peter Duffy).
Red cards: 0.