Offaly rally late to snatch good win in competitive season opener

O'BYRNE Cup games in January are generally about individual rather than collective performances but Offaly did well as a unit to dig deep and snatch a late win in a competitive season opener in Carlow on Saturday.

O'Byrne Cup Senior Football 1^st round

Offaly 3-14

Carlow 3-9

3-9 to 1-13 behind with seven minutes left, Offaly looked to have been slipping to a defeat that would have been disappointing but not very damaging when they mounted a ferocious late rally to qualify for a quarter-final against Meath on Wednesday evening.

That will be a welcome game for Offaly as they prepare for a big National Football League Division 2 campaign in a few weeks time and they will have been pleased with the way they pulled the win out of the fire here, scoring 2-1 without reply in the closing few minutes.

Darragh Flynn got a nice point to reduce arrears to the minimum with six minutes left and then excellent sub Cormac Egan edged them in front with a fantastic 57^th minute goal. He raced at pace onto a great “quick hands” pass from Aaron Leavy and buried a low drive into the net. Carlow's race was run and Leavy ensured victory with a scrambled goal two minutes from time after Marcas Dalton's attempt at a point didn't reach the target.

It was fitting that Egan and Leavy got those late goals as they were pivotal to Offaly winning – Egan's pace and movement opened up Carlow and Leavy made a great favourable impression at midfield as he continues his development into a real county footballer.

Indeed the introduction of four subs from Tullamore were key to Offaly getting the result as Daire McDaid mopped up good ball in defence and Cormac's older brother Diarmuid Egan attacked with real menace.

It was a typical January season opener in many ways with Offaly leading by 1-7 to 1-6 at half time. Rory Egan, revelling in a new attacking role on the half forward line, got them going with a fourth minute punched goal but Carlow led by 1-4 to 1-1 after 19 minutes – the goal was scored by Adam McCarron who caused Offaly a lot of first half problems, scoring 1-3.

An excellent two pointer from impressive new Dublin import, Ciaran Murphy followed by two Harry Plunkett points, one free, and a great Rory Egan two pointer helped Offaly to that half time lead. They would have been further ahead only for six first half wides with Carlow having none.

A bumbled McCarron goal saw Carlow take a 2-8 to 1-7 in the 37^th minute and for a lot of the second half, it looked like the home side would be able to win.

Offaly found a rich vein of form to lead by 1-13 to 2-9 with 51 of the 60 minutes played but Carlow opened up their defence for Paddy McDonnell to score a 53^rd minute goal and give them that two point lead.

The difference between Division 2 and 4 was shown in those dying minutes as Offaly drove forward relentlessly, controlled every facet of the play and Carlow just couldn't get their hands on the ball.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Rory Egan (Offaly): Given a new attacking role on the half forward line, Rory Egan did extremely well. He scored 1-4, including a two pointer, but his work ethic, his foraging for the ball, gathering of breaks and support play captured as much attention and he was the outstanding player on the field.

The displays of Cormac Egan and Aaron Leavy as the second half wore on helped Offaly get across the line while goalkeeper Sean O'Toole, Shane O'Toole-Greene and Marcas Dalton impressed defensively and Keith O'Neill oozed quality up front.

Most interest sorted on the new players and some of those did very well. Eoin Dunne will take a few games to find his feet at this level but showed considerable promise at midfield. He is strong, athletic and did a lot of very good things. He is raw, took some wrong options and it will be a learning process for him but he is coming from junior football with Clodiagh Gaels and is well worth a chance.

Ciaran Murphy also showed potential. The son of a Bracknagh mother, the Skerries Harp player has a sweet left foot and is well able to play football, Two other new players in the attack, Harry Plunkett and Darragh Flynn also did well. It took Flynn a while to settle but he got better as it wore on and got two crucial points. Tullamore man Plunkett also grabbed his chance to impress. He did the simple thing well and most importantly, he nailed his frees and also got a point from play, albeit tipped over by the goalkeeper.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Rory Egan 1-4 (1 x 2p), Harry Plunkett 0-4 (3f), Aaron Leavy and Cormac Egan 1-0 each, Ciaran Murphy (1 x 2p), Darragh Flynn and Keith O'Neill 0-2 each,

Carlow: Adam McCarron 2-3, Paddy McDonnell 1-0, Colm Hulton 0-3, Darragh Foley 0-2 (2f), Mark Foley 0-1 (f).

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Sean O'Toole (Shamrocks); Cathal Ryan (Daingean), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks), Marcas Dalton (Clara), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Eoin Dunne (Clodiagh Gaels); Ciaran Murphy (Skerries Harps, Dublin), Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Rory Egan (Edenderry); Eoin Sawyer (Castleknock, Dublin), Harry Plunkett (Tullamore), Darragh Flynn (Ferbane); Subs – Daire McDaid (Tullamore) for Ryan (HT), Cormac Egan (Tullamore) for Sawyer (HT), Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore) for Murphy (39m), Aaron Leavy (Tullamore) for Dunne (46m), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) for Plunkett (54m).

CARLOW: Ben McCarron; Lee Moore, Niall Roche, Colm Byrne; Tadgh Roche, Dara Curran, Padraic Bolger; Adam Burgess, Mark Furey; Paddy McDonnell, Colm Hulton, Conor Doyle; Adam McCarron, Darragh Foley, Jamie Clarke. Subs – Sean Murphy, Eoghan Ruth, Evan Corr, Pady Regan, Emmet Moran.

Referee – Ryan Moran (Kildare).

REFEREE WATCH

Ryan Moran had a very solid game with his understanding of the rules and all round awareness impressing. He was not a factor in the result.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cormac Egan's late goal was a quality strike and was also the biggest score of the game as it turned the tide for Offaly.

VENUE WATCH

Eire Og's ground in Carlow provided a very nice venue. The local stewards were very helpful and welcoming, managing the decent crowd well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly host Meath in the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening while Carlow are in the shield.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 8 (6 in first half); Carlow – 4 (0 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Carlow – 1 (Colm Byrne).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0