Second half display helps Offaly pull away for comfortable win
OFFALY maintained their 100 per cent start to the Allianz National Hurling league with a 15 point victory over a gallant Derry side at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Sunday.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 2A
OFFALY 0-33
DERRY 1-15
On the face of it a 15 point victory was fairly straightforward but it was far from comfortable for Offaly, particularly in the first half when Derry made it very difficult for them. After going five points ahead after 11 minutes Offaly found themselves behind six minutes before half time and eventually led by two at the break.
In the second half Offaly did take control and made their dominance count and ran out comfortable winners in the end but they will know there is plenty of room for improvement before they travel to Killarney to take on Kerry on Saturday week.
For the second week running at O'Connor Park, an Offaly sub came on and made a big difference. The previous Sunday it was Bernard Allen for the footballers, who came on and hit five second half points, and on this occasion it was Birr's Eoghan Cahill who was introduced four minutes before the break with the sides level and he proceeded to shoot 12 points, seven of those from play. He had scored three alone before the break and added nine more in the second half as Offaly put Derry to the sword.
It was a far from perfect showing from Offaly and their tally of 18 wides is something that will be a concern. Some of the shooting, mainly in the first half, was very wayward and some of the shot selection would also have to be questioned.
Another area of concern might be the fact that they have failed to score a goal in either of their two games so far. They did have chances, the best of them late in the game when Adrian Cleary crashed a great opportunity off the crossbar. Cillian Kiely saw three efforts rebound off defenders for '65s' which resulted in Offaly points while Oisin Kelly also had one good opportunity in the first half but delayed getting his shot away and the chance was gone.
The sides were a bit slow to settle with neither getting to grips with the game in the early stages. Then Offaly quickly raced into a five point lead and it looked like they would ease away but Derry had other ideas and settled into the game and gradually closed the gap. As Offaly wasted chances Derry levelled and then took the lead by the 30th minute but suddenly Offaly hit six in a row and were five ahead approaching half time when Derry struck for a goal which left just two in it at the break.
Offaly hit 11 wides in that first half. After the slow start they found their rhythm and six points in eight minutes had them 0-6 to 0-1 ahead after 13 minutes. But then nine wides followed in a 10 minute spell with just one point in the same period and Derry took advantage of Offaly's wastefulness to work their way back into the game. In truth Offaly could have had the game won at that point but they didn't put distance between them and Derry and six minutes before the break, they found themselves behind.
To their credit they did respond well to that and once Eoghan Cahill came on everything seemed to change and the chances seemed to go over. Six points in the last few minutes of the first half got them going again and although Derry got a goal in the last action of the first half they were unable to build on that after the break. Offaly settled quickly with five points in seven minutes to go six clear and Derry were only able to pick off the odd point in this half and Offaly continued to raise white flags and gradually ease to safety, shooting 20 points in that half.
Ben Conneely had a fine game in defence where Ciaran Burke, Jason Sampson and David King also played well. Ross Ravenhill worked hard in the middle of the field and contributed two points, while in attack, Charlie Mitchell, David Nally, Cillian Kiely and sub Eoghan Cahill were best.
Mark Craig, Ronan, Mullan, Sean Cassidy, James Friel, Cormac O'Doherty and Richie Mullan were best for Derry.
Both sides were slow to settle and missed an early free each before Offaly took the lead in the 6th minute when Killian Sampson pointed from 65m, David Nally quickly added points from a '65' and a free before Charlie Mitchell and Paddy Clancy put Offaly five up after 11 minutes.
Darragh McGilligan scored Derry's first point after 12 minutes but another David Nally free restored the five point gap. Full back Mark Craig came forward to score a good point and Cormac O'Doherty added two more from frees and the gap was down to two midway through the half. Charlie Mitchell scored another for Offaly but the wides really started to flow from the Offaly side, reaching 11 by the 26th minute, while John Mullan and James Friel from two frees brought Derry level after 29 minutes and then Richard Mullan put them ahead for the first time.
Ross Ravenhill levelled for Offaly and sub Eoghan Cahill, just on the field, put them back in front. Charlie Mitchell, two more from Eoghan Cahill and a David Nally '65' soon had Offaly five in front once more, but just on the stroke of half time a high ball from James Friel was doubled to the net by Reese McSorley and Derry had the gap down to two points at half time, 0-13 to 1-8.
Eoghan Cahill took up where he left off with an early second half point but James Friel replied with a free. Killian Sampson, Eoghan Cahill, David King and Adrian Cleary stretched the Offaly lead out to six before James Friel hit a brace for Derry, one a free.
Offaly began to totally dominate and Cillian Kiely, Eoghan Cahill (free), Ross Ravenhill, Brian Duignan and David Nally all pointed with just two James Friel frees in reply to leave Offaly 0-23 to 1-12 ahead midway through the second half. They hit nine points in succession at one point with Eoghan Cahill supplying six of them, and David Nally and Adrian Cleary also on target. Richie Mullan's free stopped the rot for Derry and Cormac O'Doherty also scored a good late point but Cillian Kiely and Charlie Mitchell put the icing on the cake for Offaly.
MATCH ANALYSIS
THE TEAMS
OFFALY: Stephen Corcoran; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, Oisin Murphy; Killian Sampson, Jason Sampson, David King; Ross Ravenhill, Jack Clancy; Oisin Kelly, Cillian Kiely, Adrian Cleary; Paddy Clancy, Charlie Mitchell, David Nally. Subs. Eoghan Cahill (for Jack Clancy, 31 mins), Brian Duignan (for Oisin Kelly, half time), John Murphy (for Paddy Clancy, half time), Jack Screeney (for Oisin Murphy, 43 mins).
DERRY: Eoin Mulholland; Sean Francis Quinn, Mark Craig, Ronan Mullan; Sean Cassidy, Paul Cleary, Meehaul McGrath; James Friel, Padhraig Neilis; Cormac O'Doherty, Darragh McGilligan, Corey O'Reilly; John Mullan, Richie Mullan, Reese McSorley. Subs. Callum Okane (for Padhraig Neilis, 44 mins), Eamon Conway (for Reese McSorley, 54 mins), Cahal Quinn (for Ronan Mullan, 64 mins), Kosta Papachristopolous (for Paul Cleary, 66 mins), Cormac Gough (for Corey O'Reilly, 73 mins).
REFEREE: Colum Cunning (Antrim)
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eoghan Cahill made an immediate impression when he came off the subs bench four minutes before half time and he scored three points from play before the break. He continued to cause mayhem for Derry after the break, adding nine more points, four of them from play. At the time Offaly came on they had hit 11 wides and were wasting chances but once he appeared things seemed to settle and his accuracy helped Offaly pull away for a comfortable win in the end.
REFEREE WATCH
Colum Cunning made the long trip from Antrim and did a good job. He was up with the action, controlled things well and wasn't a factor in the outcome of the game.
TALKING POINT
Offaly's first half shooting left a lot to be desired. They had run up a tally of 11 wides after 26 minutes and at least seven players had contributed to that tally. There was a bit of a crossfield wind but nothing that could be attributed as causing these misses and with stiffer tests to come in the weeks ahead, it is something that they will have to address. They finished with 18 wides and 33 points, so that's over 50 shots at goals but the conversion rate will have to improve.
WHAT’S NEXT
Offaly make the trip to Killarney to face Kerry on Saturday week while Derry lost Kildare the following day.
VENUE WATCH
O'Connor Park was in decent condition for this game considering the time of year. It was played before a small crowd but it was nice to see plenty of youngsters out pucking around at half time.
STATISTICS
Wides; Offaly 18 (11 in first half) Derry 10 (3 in first half)
Yellow Cards: Offaly 2 (Ben Conneely, Jack Screeney) Derry 2 (Darragh McGilligan, Meehaul McGrath)
Red Cards: None
THE SCORERS
Offaly; Eoghan Cahill (0-12, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65'), David Nally (0-6, 0-2 frees, 0-2 '65s'), Charlie Mitchell (0-4), Killian Sampson, Ross Ravenhill, Adrian Cleary, Cillian Kiely (0-2 each), Paddy Clancy, David King, Brian Duignan (0-1 each).
Derry; James Friel (0-7, 0-6 frees), Cormac O'Doherty (0-3, 0-2 frees), Reese McSorley (1-0), Richie Mullan (0-2, 0-1 free), Darragh McGilligan, Mark Craig, James Mullan (0-1 each).