Much improved Offaly turn on style in second half to collect two crucial points

A MUCH improved, cohesive and more consistent display saw Offaly collect two valuable points when they got completely on top in the second half of their National Hurling League Division 1B tussle with Laois in Portlaoise on Sunday.

National Hurling League Division 1B Round 2

Offaly 1-24

Laois 1-15

Missing some key players through injury, Offaly were still bitterly disappointed to only draw with Carlow in the opening round the previous Sunday. They were still without Cillian Kiely, Ben Conneely and Eoghan Cahill here but Brian Duignan returned to the starting line-up and while he played an absolutely pivotal part in the win, this was an infinitely better all round performance.

It was probably a good 10% if not more of an improvement on the Carlow game and the big difference was that Offaly did not hit the lengthy valley periods than they did in Tullamore, They kept it going for the full seventy minutes and the sight of players chasing down and blocking players deep in injury time when the points were wrapped up was reflective of the way Offaly played and their work ethic.

Two points behind at half time, Offaly were utterly dominant in the second half, outscoring the home side by 1-15 to 1-4 and the Laois goal was a penalty from goalkeeper Enda Rowland with the three minutes of injury time over, doing nothing more than taking the sore look of the scoreboard – and that won't be any consolation to Laois as they ended up a badly beaten team.
Laois were made look very poor in the second half but a lot of that was down to Offaly, who were relentless in their approach throughout the field. It ended up a very pleasing and comprehensive win, a very good display and it will set them up nicely for the tough battles ahead.

It was a good fast game of hurling with no quarter asked or given and a real bite bubbling underneath the surface.

Laois led by 0-11 to 0-9 at half time after playing with the wind and were somewhat fortunate to be in that position. Offaly left at least 2-3 behind them in the first half but at the other end, Mark Troy did make two quality saves to deny Jer Quinlan and Tomas Keyes goals in the 10^th and 17^th minutes and they also had their share of wides in open play.

Offaly played reasonably well in the first half and should have been at least level at half time. They missed two great goal chances with Brian Duignan driving high over the bar with the goal at his mercy in the sixth minute while Charlie Mitchell also pointed with a great goal chance in the 20^th minute.

Oisin Kelly also had a decent chance in the 15^th minute with Enda Rowland doing well to smother his shot and the big mystery in the first half was how there was no goal on the board. There was nick or nothing between the sides most of the way though Offaly were marginally tbe better side for the first 25 minutes. They had a two point lead on a couple of occasions and apart from the goal misses, they could have extended that as they had a few wides and were also blocked down in good positions a couple of times.

Offaly were 0-9 to 0-7 ahead after 20 minutes and without doing anything spectacular, Laois got the closing four points, three from Aaron Dunphy frees and one from Charles Dwyer, for that half time lead.

Most people expected a typically tight second half with the result going down to the wire but Offaly read out of a different script. They went at Laois from the restart and had them on the back foot in the blink of an eye. They got three quick points, two of them Dan Ravenhill and Dan Bourke points from play to grab a 0-12 to 0-11 lead after 37 minutes. Aaron Dunphy levelled it up with a free but Offaly were 0-15 to 0-14 ahead after 49 minutes and scenting blood, they went for the throat. By the time David Dooley got Laois' next point in the 65^th minute, Offaly had 0-23 on the board and it was all over.

Offaly were outstanding in that sixteen minute spell, winning all the battles and driving forward. Duignan got some sensational long range frees and with Colin Spain, Dan Bourke and Dan Ravenhill floating over lovely scores, it became apparent that it was going to be Offaly's day.

Dan Ravenhill got a deserved reward for a super second half with a 68^th minute goal, meaning that Rowland's penalty goal scarcely drew a round of applause from the home support.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Brian Duignan (Offaly): Offaly had several contenders and the performance of some of the young players warmed the heart. Donal Shirley was magnificent at centre back, showing how at home he is at this level and in such a central position. Colin Spain ran the midfield battle in an almost understated way, putting in a mountain of work and was a real man of the match contender with Cathal King rock solid beside him. James Mahon had another flawless display in defence while the two Dan's, Bourke and Ravenhill fired on all cylinders in the second half – Ravenhill's tour-de-force was note worthy as it didn't happen for him in the first game but he oozed class here.

Ciaran Burke and Killian Sampson also contributed powerfully but my choice is Brian Duignan. His free taking was exemplary, his work rate inspiring – he also got two points from play and had scoring assists. Not everything came off for him but he was immense, a bundle of energy and he showed his value for Offaly.

The winners could still do with some of their walking wounded returning. They had limited options on the line if things were going wrong, waiting until the 67^th minute to introduce a sub and fresh legs could have helped earlier as some players drifted towards the red, though in this case, things were going well and it didn't matter.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Brian Duignan 0-13 (10f and 1 '65), Dan Ravenhill 1-4, Dan Bourke and Charlie Mitchell 0-2 each, Donal Shirley, Killian Samspon and Colin Spain 0-1 each.

Laois: Aaron Dunphy 0-6 (5f and 1 '65), Enda Rowland 1-1 (penalty and free), Jordan Walshe, Charles Dwyer and David Dooley 0-2 each, Aidan Corby and Patrick Purcell 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Padraig Cantwell (Shamrocks), Ciaran Burke (Durrow), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Donal Shirley (Tubber), Jason Sampson (Shinrone); Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Dan Bourke (Durrow), Oisin Kelly (Belmont); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Brian Duignan (Durrow). Subs – David Nally (Belmont) for Duignan (67m), Jack Clancy (Belmont) for Mitchell (71m), Sam Bourke (Durrow) for Spain (71m),

LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Donnchadh Hartnett; Tom Cuddy, Fiachra C. Fennell, Padraig Delaney; Aidan Corby, Jordan Walshe; David Dooley, Jer Quinlan, Charles Dwyer; Tomas Keyes, Aaron Dunphy, Martin Phelan. Subs – Ben Conroy for Quinlan (HT), Patrick Purcell for Phelan (42m), Liam O'Connell for Cleere (48m), Eanna Lyons for Dunphy (58m), Mark Dowling for Corby (64m),

Referee – Niall Malone (Clare).

REFEREE WATCH

Niall Malone had a good game. Both sides could quibble at decisions here and there but there were no major issues and he flashed cards when necessary as both teams played it hard but generally fair.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

No big defining moment as such but Offaly won this game from the 51^st to 64^th minutes when they really turned the screw and scored eight points without reply.

VENUE WATCH

A good sized crowd created a typical derby atmosphere. The O'Moore Park pitch looked bare in patches but it was solid and very playable.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly host Antrim in Tullamore next Sunday.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 10 (8 in first half); Laois - 8 (7 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 3 (Brian Duignan, Jason Sampson, Ciaran Burke); Laois – 5 (Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Padraig Delaney, Martin Phelan, Ben Comroy).

Red cards: 0.