A performance of two halves as Offaly U-20 hurlers ease into knockout stages

OFFALY manager Leo O'Connor was sufficiently worried during a substandard first half display to throw his pre-match plans out the window and introduce emerging senior star Charlie Mitchell after 21 minutes of Saturday's Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship win over Antrim in Darver.

Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship Tier 2 Round 3

Offaly 2-17

Antrim 0-8

With Mitchell named to start at corner forward in Sunday's crunch Joe McDonagh Cup game against Kildare, O'Connor had hoped he wouldn't need to use him but a fairly dire opening half resulted in him pressing the panic button. The Limerick man confirmed afterwards that he had hoped to be able to avoid using Mitchell, highlighting the packed schedule the Kilcormac-Killoughey sharp shooter faces between seniors and U-20s.

While Offaly ended up sauntering to a 2-17 to 0-8 win, securing top spot in their tier 2 group and a preliminary quarter-final at home to Kildare next Friday, they were sufficiently off the boil in the first half to warrant Mitchell's introduction. At the time, they were leading by 0-5 to 0-3 while playing with the wind and struggling to find any form. They just didn't seem tuned in and it looked like it could be one of those days but by the time Mitchell was pulled off twenty six minutes later in the 47th minute, Offaly were 2-13 to 0-7 ahead and home and dry.

The stakes in this game were big as a defeat would have left three teams in four points and scoring difference deciding who advanced. As things turned out, Mitchell was a mainly peripheral figure as Offaly took complete control of the game in the second half but he provided a presence and his opportunist 43rd minute goal really killed off the Antrim challenge, putting Offaly 2-12 to 0-6 ahead – not that there was the remotest possibility of Antrim rescuing the game without it.

With a worrying injury list with Dan Ravenhill, Ruari Kelly, Cillian Martin, Donal Shirley, Liam Hoare among those out at the moment, Offaly are stretched. Some of them may get back but it prompted O'Connor to turn to Tullamore's Cormac Egan and Niall Furlong to strengthen his panel. Both only became available after Offaly's U-20 football campaign ended and he opted to get quick game time into them, introducing them as second half subs.

It was a very mixed display by Offaly with a remarkably mediocre first half followed by an infinitely better second half one when the winners were much more focused, professional and sharp. For whatever reason, they were just not at the races for most of the first half. They were careless, sloppy and Antrim gave them loads of it. A strong swirling wind favoured Offaly and it was only towards the interval that they got enough of a cushion to ease their nerves.

Offaly had a few bad wides and were only level, 0-3 each after ten minutes. They got the next three to go three clear with Adam Screeney getting two of those – the K-K man got four of his five first half points from play and Offaly would have been in trouble only for him, though he was also guilty of some lacadaisical play.

Screeney lost control with a goal chance in the 27th minute, with Offaly baying for a foul but two minutes later they got the score they needed. It was a fortunate goal as Joe Hoctor got bottled up while advancing at the Antrim posts but was still able to get loose and scramble the ball into the net.

Offaly led by 1-7 to 0-5 at half time and even though five points was not a lot and they had the wind to face, it was always likely to be sufficient – Antrim were full of heart but it was also clear that they were a limited side and it would take a seriously bad performance for Offaly to lose to them.

Offaly played way better in the second half. Leo O'Connor had stern works with them at the break and from the restart, it was clear that they were in a different frame of mind. They had 1-12 on the board before Antrim finally got their sixth point, a Christy McGarry free in the 41st minute. Dan Bourke, outstanding in the second half as he got five points, four from play, drew a good save from Eoghan Richmond for a '65' in the 31st minute, with Screeney floating it over. Mitchell's goal after a good Colin Spain ball in the 43rd minute made it 2-12 to 0-6 and Offaly were able to take Mitchell off and run in subs after this.

They won pulling up from here and Antrim had nothing to offer, though they almost got a 51st minute goal but Mark Troy did very well to sherperd Niall McGarel away from the posts and James Mahon made a great goal line save.

It ended up a decent, satisfactory performance by Offaly and they have the scope for further improvement. They could do with getting some of their injured players back but will be hoping to give one of the big guns of Kilkenny, Galway, Dublin or Wexford a lash in a quarter-final, assuming they don't slip up in the preliminary quarter-finals next Friday.

Once they got their attitude right in the second half, they looked a good side with every player displaying the work rate that is a hallmark of Leo O'Connor teams. They also had players who played really well with Ben Miller, Sam Bourke, Brecon Kavanagh, Colin Spain, Dan Bourke and Adam Screeney really making their presence felt.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Sam Bourke (Offaly): It is a sign of Adam Screeney's excellence that he could nearly be man of the match every game he plays and it was no different here as he scored eight points, five from play. Dan Bourke was superb in the second half with four from play and showing great pace and intuition, Colin Spain had a very productive afternoon at midfield and Ben Miller continues to capture attention with the efficiency of his full back displays. My choice is a bit from the left field as not everything he did turned to gold but Sam Bourke was so solid and steady. He was immense at centre half back in the first half as he prevented Antrim making inroads through the middle, cutting out a lot of ball and making penetrating runs forward when Offaly were struggling. He continued to defend solidly in the second half and even when the ball didn't come up for him, he ensured it didn't get into Antrim hands.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Adam Screeney 0-8 (2f and 1 '65'), Dan Bourke 0-5 (1f), Joe Hoctor 1-1, Charlie Mitchell 1-0, Colin Spain, Shane Rigney and Niall Furlong 0-1 each.

Antrim: Aodhan McGarry 0-2 (1f an 1 '65'), Ben McGarry, Joseph McLaughlin, Christy McGarry (f), Niall McGarel, Jack McCloskey (f) and Ronan McCollum 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), Ben Miller (Birr), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Barry Egan (Clara), Sam Bourke (Durrow), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Dan Bourke (Durrow), Joe Hoctor (Carrig-Riverstown), Conor Doyle (Clara); Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's), Ailbe Watkins (Birr), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Watkins (21m), Cormac Egan (Tullamore) for Mitchell (47m), Niall Furlong (Tullamore) for Barry Egan (48m), Alex Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Screeney (54m).

ANTRIM: Eoghan Richmond; Conor Boyle, Dubhaltach Wislon, Darragh Patterson; Ben McGarry, Daire McMullan, Ruari McCormick; Eoin McFerran, Aodhan McGarry; Seanie McIntosh, Joseph McLoughlin, Christy McGarry; Cormac McKeown, Niall McGarel, Aidan Scullion. Subs – Jack McCloskey for McGarry (42m), Diarmaid Rogan for McKeown (54m), Pearse Patterson for Boyle 58m).

Referee – Derek Ryan.

REFEREE WATCH

Derek Ryan got a bit of stick from Offaly supporters over frees not given in the first half but some of them were a bit hard on him. At least a couple of the decisions they complained at were not clearcut and Ryan got most calls right, controlled it well and was not a factor in the result.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Joe Hoctor's 29th minute goal was absolutely crucial. Hoctor worked hard and sheer perseverance got him the goal. It helped Offaly to a 1-7 to 0-5 interval lead, which was just about enough of a cushion but more importantly, it knocked the life out of Antrim.

VENUE WATCH

The Louth training grounds at Darver is a fine venue and was a fair one for an Offaly Antrim game. It is very exposed but the pitch was good and there was no issue holding the small crowd.

TALKING POINT

With a mounting injury list, Offaly took a risk by not starting Charlie Mitchell here, though he came in before going off when the game was in the bag. They have also drafted in two members of the Offaly U-20 football panel, Cormac Egan and Niall Furlong. Both are good hurlers and with injury problems, you can see why management has done it but calling in players late in the day is always a risky business with the potential to upset fringe players who have been there for the year. However, a manager is entitled to make decisions he thinks will benefit the team and once he decided to call them in, giving them game time was the right call.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly play a preliminary quarter-final at home to Kildare in Tullamore on Friday evening.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 9 (7 i n first half); Antrim – 6 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 1 (Cathal King); Antrim – 3 (Darragh Patterson, Aidan Scullion and Jack McCloskey).

Red cards: 0.