Offaly snatch dramatic victory with last gasp winner

OFFALY 0-22

KERRY 1-18

OFFALY snatched a dramatic victory over Kerry when David Nally sent a sideline cut between the posts with the last puck of the game after a very entertaining contest at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Saturday.

Offaly had seen a seven point lead early in the second half wiped out as Kerry took the lead twice in the closing minutes of the game but Offaly showed great resilience at that point to bounce back and after levelling with two minutes left, David Nally stepped up to a sideline cut inside the 20m line on the right hand side three minutes into injury time and he sent it straight between the posts for the winning score.

It maintains Offaly's 100% start to the campaign and keeps them on top of the division with two home games to come against Carlow and Kildare. They will be keen to build on this momentum now and win those games to claim their place directly into the final but they should at least be guaranteed a place in the semi-final at this stage.

They were really pushed to the pin of their collar in this game and it looked like the game might be slipping away from them in the closing stages. But just as they had done in Tralee in the Joe McDonagh Cup last year, Offaly hit back after losing a lead and David Nally stepped up to hit the winning score once again.

Offaly played well in the opening half, particularly the second quarter, but after going seven points up in the second half, they lost their way a bit. A lot of their delivery into the forward line was poor. It wasn't well directed or was short of the intended man and that let Kerry come out with the ball and they began to build a head of steam as they gradually ate into Offaly's lead.

The opening quarter was fairly even and the sides were level on the couple of occasions in that. Offaly twice led by two points but Kerry levelled both times and the home side went in front in the 17th minute when star forward Shane Conway fired to the net.

Offaly's response to that was impressive and they dominanted the second quarter keeping Kerry scoreless for 22 minutes while shooting seven points in a row themselves and they went in at the break with a five point advantage.

They were seven points up early in the second half but Kerry quickly cut that down to two and it was game on from there. Offaly did go five clear again with 14 minutes left but Kerry hit six in a row to take the lead before Offaly's late rescue act got them out of jail and secured two valuable league points.

Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke and Jason Sampson all played well in the Offaly defence. David King was solid around the middle of the field and in attack David Nally worked hard, Eoghan Cahill added another 13 points, Cillian Kiely put in a big effort and sub Charlie Mitchell showed some good touches.

Eoin Ross, Evan Murphy and Michael Boyle did a good job in the Kerry defence, Fionan McKessy and Daniel Collins were always busy around the middle of the field and Colin Walsh, Shane Conway and Padraig Boyle were most effective in attack.

Eoghan Cahill took up where he left off in the Derry game with two Offaly frees in the first two minutes. Keith Carmody got the first for Kerry a minute later and then Padraig Boyle levelled from a free. Two good points from play in quick succession from Adrian Cleary and David Nally restored Offaly's advantage but once more Kerry hit back to level with another Padraig Boyle free and a point from midfielder Fionan McKessy.

Eoghan Cahill pushed Offaly a point up again after 16 minutes but immediately afterwards Kerry took the lead for the first time Colin Walsh made a great run from the right before passing to Shane Conway and he fired low to the Offaly net to leave the home side leading by two points midway through the half.

Offaly responded very well to that setback and got the next seven points. Cillian Kiely scored two from play, Eoghan Cahill pointed four frees and Oisin Kelly ran through to pop another over to leave Offaly five ahead entering first half injury time. Padraig Boyle from a free had Kerry's first score in 22 minutes but another Eoghan Cahill free rounded off the first half scoring with Offaly ahead by 0-13 to 1-5.

Offaly stretched their lead on the resumption with two more Eoghan Cahill points, one a free and the second a '65' after Offaly's best goal chance of the game. Paddy Delaney's high ball was fielded by Oisin Kelly who made ground before passing to Jack Screeney but goalkeeper John B O'Halloran smothered his shot out for the '65', which Cahill pointed.

That left Offaly seven up and they looked in a comfortable position but over the next seven minutes Kerry hit back with five points, two each from Colin Walsh and Padraig Boyle (both frees) and another from Daniel Collins to cut the gap to two points. Offaly had gone 13 minutes without a score before Eoghan Cahill pointed a free and a point from David Nally seemed to settle them. Dan Goggins hit one back for Kerry but Adrian Cleary and Charlie Mitchell hit two more points to put Offaly five up again with 14 minutes left.

Kerry didn't give up though and Fionan McKessy got his second point while Padraig Boyle scored three on the trot, two frees and a '65', to leave one in it. Sub Niall Mulcahy then levelled and another sub Jordan Conway put Kerry back in front with six minutes left. Eoghan Cahill brought Offaly level again after good work by Cillian Kiely but Kerry were back in front when Shane Conway sent a sideline cut from 55m out on the way way over the crossbar. Eoghan Cahill levelled again from a free and both sides had chances after that, both registering wides and also dropped efforts short.

Then with time almost up Offaly won a sideline cut inside the 20m line on the right and David Nally sent his effort straight over the bar for the winning score.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Stephen Corcoran; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, Jack Screeney; Killian Sampson, Jason Sampson, Ross Ravenhill; Paddy Delaney, David King; Oisin Kelly, Cillian Kiely, Adrian Cleary; Eoghan Cahill, John Murphy, David Nally. Subs. Charlie Mitchell (for John Murphy, half time), Eimhin Kelly (for Ross Ravenhill, 49 mins), Jack Clancy (for Paddy Delaney, 64 mins).

KERRY: John B. O'Halloran; Evan Murphy, Eoin Ross, Conor O'Keeffe; Eric Leen, Michael Boyle, Kyle O'Connor; Fionan McKessy, Daniel Collins; Colin Walsh, Michael Leane, Shane Conway; Keith Carmody, Daithi Griffin, Padraig Boyle. Subs. Jordan Conway (for Daithi Griffin, 6 mins), Dan Goggin (for Keith Carmody, 50 mins), Niall Mulcahy (for Michael Leane, 61 mins), Sean Weir (for Eric Leen, 61 mins), Cillian Trant (for Conor O'Keeffe, 62 mins).

REFEREE: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)

MAN OF THE MATCH

It was a game where Offaly gave a solid team performance and team captain Jason Sampson epitomised their spirit with a very solid display from centre back. He patrolled the area well, picked up a lot of loose ball and set up many attacks.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

David Nally's match winning point with the last puck of the game was the decisive moment of a well contested game.

REFEREE WATCH

Referee Kevin Jordan was up with the play at all times. Three times in the first half he penalised Kerry for fouls on forwards before the ball arrived. He was probably a bit harsher on Offaly in the second half when it looked like they should have been awarded a couple of frees but didn't get them but overall things balanced themselves out and he wasn't a factor in the deciding of the game

TALKING POINT

Offaly have now put themselves in a strong position to make the Division 2A final direct. They have won all three games thus far and have two home games left against Carlow and Kildare. While both those games won't be easy, Offaly now have their destiny in their own hands. The advantage of getting straight into the final is it will provide a week's break while the second half third placed teams will play a semi-final, which will be crucial as the team which wins that semi-final will end up playing seven weekends in a row between league and Joe McDonagh Cup

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly are at home to Carlow on Saturday March 11th while Kerry travel to take on Kildare the same day.

VENUE WATCH

On a lovely sunny day, Fitzgerald Stadium looked picture perfect with the mountains in the background. The surface held up well. With a big football game in Tralee, there was a small crowd in a big stadium but all arrangements were very well in place for the game.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 10 (6 in first half) Kerry 13 (8 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 3 (Ross Ravenhill, Paddy Delaney, Eimhin Kelly) Kerry 2 (Jordan Conway, Michael Boyle)

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Eoghan Cahill (0-13, 0-11 frees, 0-1 '65'), David Nally (0-3, 0-1 lineball), Adrian Clancy and Cillian Kiely (0-2), Oisin Kelly and Charlie Mitchell (0-1 each).

Kerry; Padraig Boyle (0-8, 0-7 frees, 0-1 '65'), Shane Conway (1-1, 0-1 lineball), Fintan McKessy and Colin Walsh (0-2 each), Keith Carmody, Daniel Collins, Dan Goggin, Niall Mulcahy, Jordan Conway (0-1 each).