Offaly book place in Joe McDonagh Cup Final with emphatic victory over Kerry

OFFALY booked their place in the final of the Joe McDonagh Cup with a round to spare following an emphatic 18 point victory over Kerry at Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday.

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4

OFFALY 3-24

KERRY 0-15

After a shaky opening quarter Offaly came more into the game approaching half time to take a four point lead to the dressing rooms and they completely dominated the second half, outscoring their opponents by 2-13 to 0-5.

Irrespective of what happens in the final round of group games next weekend, Offaly are now through to face Laois in the Joe McDonagh Cup final, which is fixed for Saturday June 8th. Laois beat Offaly in the opening game in the group, so Offaly will be out to avenge that defeat in the final.

They were slow to get into this game and trailed by three points at the midway point in the first half. A goal from a penalty after 19 minutes gave them the lift they needed and they began to push on in the second quarter and were four points up at half time, 1-11 to 0-10.

Kerry scored two of the first three points in the second half to leave just a goal in it after 41 minutes but Offaly just opened up from there and scored the next 1-8 without reply to put the game beyond Kerry's reach. They had the luxury of being able to withdraw their two under 20 starters, Dan Bourke and Cathal King, with over 15 minutes left ahead of Wednesday's night's Leinster Final, and kept the scoreboard ticking over right up to the final whistle.

Kerry did make it difficult for Offaly in the opening stages and did cause some problems for the home defence. Maurice O'Connor punished them from frees, scoring eight of their 10 points in the opening half, seven from placed balls, but he was forced off with injury just before half time and his absence was badly felt by the Kerry attack.

Offaly slowly began to build their way into the game. The penalty goal from Eoghan Cahill was the lift they needed and they began to make greater use of the ball from there. Charlie Mitchell was very effective in getting into space in the forward line and Eoghan Cahill also became more prominent. The Offaly defence also began to close down Kerry more and the Munster side had fewer scoring opportunities after that.

Once Offaly got into their stride they motored nicely and could have scored more but they hit 11 wides as well. In all 10 different players got on the scoresheet from play, which is a good spread of scorers, and they weren't dependent on just one or two players.

They can now travel to Ballycran next Saturday under no pressure. It's not an easy place to go to and if they needed a result it could have been a difficult test, but now they can go and play with freedom knowing that they have a final to look forward to two weeks after that.

Ciaran Burke, Cathal King and Killian Kiely were excellent in defence, Jason Sampson had a good game in the middle of the field and Killian Sampson, Brian Duignan, Eoghan Cahill and Charlie Mitchell all delivered in attack.

Kerry fought hard but just ran out of steam in the second half. Daithi Griffin, Flor McCarthy and Eric Leen worked hard in defence, Killian Hayes put in a good effort around the middle and Maurice O'Connor was lively until his injury with Colin Walsh also working hard.

Kerry were very quickly out of the traps and Maurice O'Connor had them in front after just 11 seconds. Offaly responded well with a well taken Brian Duignan point and then Charlie Mitchell put them in front. Maurice O'Connor levelled from a free but Brian Duignan made a fine catch and put Offaly back in front after just three minutes of play.

Kerry were enjoying the better of the game at this stage and they scored the next four points without reply to open up a three point lead. Maurice O'Connor pointed two frees and Ronan Walsh and Killian Hayes both added points from play to give them that advantage.

Eoghan Cahill pulled one back for Offaly after 10 minutes but Maurice O'Connor pointed another free to edge Kerry three in front again.

Offaly got back level after 19 minutes when Charlie Mitchell was pulled to the ground by Evan Murphy off the ball and Offaly were awarded a penalty which Eoghan Cahill dispatched to the net. Maurice O'Connor did edge Kerry back in front from a free but Charlie Mitchell levelled and then Eoghan Cahill pointed a free from well inside in his 65m line. Maurice O'Connor levelled the game for a sixth time from a free after 24 minutes but Offaly then pushed on. Cathal King burst forward for a point, Eoghan Cahill pointed a '65' and Charlie Mitchell lofted over another. Maurice O'Connor pointed a '65' for Kerry but Killian Sampson and another Eoghan Cahill free left Offaly four ahead at half time, 1-11 to 0-10.

Fionan Mackessy had the first point of the second half for Kerry and Killian Sampson and Colin Walsh quickly exchanged points to leave a goal in it six minutes into the second half. Offaly then began to exert their authority. Killian Kiely and Eoghan Cahill added points and then 12 minutes into the half, Dan Bourke made a great run through the middle before offloading to Killian Sampson and he steered a low shot to the net and suddenly there was an eight point gap between the sides.

Killian Kiely, Jason Sampson, Charlie Mitchell, Eoghan Cahill (free), Brian Duignan and Eimhin Kelly all raised white flags for Offaly as they pushed 14 points clear. David Woulfe got Kerry's first score in 21 minutes but Offaly's response was to secure their third goal when Oisin Kelly collected Sam Bourke's delivery and blasted the ball to the net. Dara Maher added a point before Niall Mulcahy replied for Kerry. Jason Sampson and Eoghan Cahill added further points before Colin Walsh and Eoghan Cahill exchanged points from frees to leave Offaly 18 points clear at the final whistle.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, Cathal King; Luke Watkins, Cillian Kiely, David King; Jason Sampson, Ross Ravenhill; Killian Sampson, Brian Duignan, Eoghan Cahill; Dan Bourke, Charlie Mitchell, Eimhin Kelly. Subs. Sam Bourke (for Luke Watkins, 46 mins), Oisin Kelly (for Dan Bourke, 54 mins), Dara Maher (for Cathal King, 54 mins), Jack Clancy (for Eimhin Kelly, 62 mins), Paul Cleary (for Killian Sampson, 66 mins).

KERRY: Louis Dee; Daithi Griffin, Evan Murphy, Eric Leen; Kyle O'Connor, Darragh Shanahan, Flor McCarthy; Fionan Mackessy, Killian Hayes; Michael Leane, Colin Walsh, Ronan Walsh; Brandon Barrett, Maurice O'Connor, Gavin Dooley. Subs. Dan Goggin (for Maurice O'Connor, 33 mins), David Woulfe (for Brandon Barrett, 51 mins), Niall Mulcahy (for Gavin Dooley, 53 mins), Tomas O'Connor (Darragh Shanahan, 53 mins), Tom Doyle (for Killian Hayes, 62 mins), Bill Keane (for Evan Murphy, temporary, 64 mins).

REFEREE: Niall Malone (Clare)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Offaly had a number of contenders and Eoghan Cahill and Killian Kiely both had strong claims but I've gone for Charlie Mitchell. When Offaly were struggling in the first half, he was the one forward who was causing problems for Kerry and hit three point from play before the break, finishing with a total of four. He was also fouled for the penalty which effectively turned the game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The first half penalty which got Offaly back in the game was the big moment in this game. Kerry had the better of the opening 19 minutes and led by three points at that stage but Evan Murphy needlessly dragged Charlie Mitchell to the ground well off the ball and Eoghan Cahill fired the penalty to the net. It gave Offaly the boost they needed and they came much more into the game after that and had built up a four point lead at the interval.

REFEREE WATCH

Niall Malone did a good job overall but he should have given Kerry captain Fionn Mackessy a second yellow in the first half. He had been booked after nine minutes and just four minutes later dragged Mark Troy to the ground with a tackle around the neck, which should have merited a second yellow. Maybe the fact it was so early in the game, he decided against taking sterner action, but it was a cast iron yellow. Otherwise he handled the game well and liaised well with his officials for both the Offaly penalty and some other off the ball stuff in the second half.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly travel to Ballycran on Saturday next and no matter what the result, they are already through to the Joe McDonagh Cup Final, while Kerry host Meath in their final group game.

VENUE WATCH

On a beautiful sunny day, O'Connor Park looked in splendid condition. The venue has hosted a lot of games in recent days but the pitch was in great condition. There was a decent sized crowd and all the usual arrangements were in place.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 11 (4 in first half) Kerry 6 (1 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 2 (Cathal King, Charlie Mitchell) Kerry 3 (Fionan Mackessy, Evan Murphy, Kyle O'Connor)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Eoghan Cahill (1-8, 1-0 penalty, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65'), Killian Sampson (1-2), Charlie Mitchell (0-4), Brian Duignan (0-3), Oisin Kelly (1-0), Killian Kiely, Jason Sampson (0-2 each), Cathal King, Eimhin Kelly, Dara Maher (0-1 each).

Kerry; Maurice O'Connor (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '65'), Colin Walsh (0-2, 0-1 free), Ronan Walsh, Killian Hayes, Fionan Mackessy, David Woulfe, Niall Mulcahy (0-1 each).