Offaly footballers look to build on ideal start as they host Fermanagh

OFFALY will be bidding to build on their fine win over Antrim last Sunday when they take on Fermanagh in round 2 of the Allianz National Football League at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Sunday next at 2pm.

Sunday's win at Corrigan Park in Belfast was the perfect start to the campaign for Offaly and it sets them up well to take on the challenge of another Ulster county on Sunday, who also come into the game having got an impressive win in their opening round game.

Offaly laid the foundations for the win over Antrim with an excellent first half display. Aided by a Ruairi McNamee goal, Offaly built up a nine point lead at one stage in the half before a couple of late points by the home side cut the deficit back at the interval when Offaly led by 1-8 to 0-4.

Despite playing into the wind in the second half Offaly maintained their advantage throughout the third quarter as Antrim missed some scoreable chances. Offaly had goalkeeper Ian Duffy to thank for some excellent saves as well which kept them well clear. But gradually Antrim began to claw their way back into the game and five points on the trot had the lead down to a goal as Offaly were clinging on a bit. However a late goal from Bernard Allen put the icing on the cake for The Faithful men and they returned home very satisfied with two points in the bag after a 2-12 to 0-12 win.

Now they face a Fermanagh side who will also be going into the game with confidence having overcome a Longford side which won the O'Byrne Cup the previous weekend by a seven point margin, 0-15 to 0-8. Fermanagh were always in control of this match and although Longford threatened for a short while early in the second half Fermanagh were able to pull away again with chief marksman Sean Quigley contributing seven of their 15 points.

Offaly and Fermanagh will now look to Sunday's game knowing that a second successive win would put either of them in a very strong position for the rest of the campaign. In what is likely to be a tight group, where teams are likely to take points off each, having four points on the board after two rounds would be significant and would leave the winners in a position to push on in the remaining five games, while lessening the threat of relegation, which all the teams will have in the back of their minds as well.

Offaly and Fermanagh last met in the league two years ago when Offaly recorded a five point victory on their way to securing promotion from Division 3 that season. They would dearly love to repeat that success on Sunday and judging on their performance last Sunday are in a strong position to do so.

Their fitness levels were evident in the win over Antrim and they had a nice spread of scorers, with most of their scores coming from play. They perhaps got a bit sloppy at times in the second half and let Antrim back into the game in the latter stages, and had the home side taken any of the goal chances that presented themselves they could have overhauled the visitors. But credit to Offaly for surviving that challenge and they responded well with their second goal to kill off the Saffrons challenge and that is what will be remembered.

New manager Liam Kearns is an experienced campaigner and he has got a good response from this Offaly team. They had a couple of good performances in the O'Byrne Cup and now have begun the league with a win and another win on Sunday would build momentum further. Building that momentum early in the season is very important as everyone then buys in, both players and supporters, and it helps generate a greater buzz and positivity around the team.

It has been a promising start to the year for Offaly but they will be aware that Fermanagh will put it up to them on Sunday. They have a couple of dangerous forwards and if they hang into the game are capable of causing trouble.

Offaly got the ideal start last Sunday with an away win at a difficult venue and they will be very keen to follow that up with another good display in front of their own supporters next Sunday.

If they produce the kind of form they showed in the first half in Belfast, they are well capable of making it two wins from two.