Late scores deny Offaly victory after battling display

Allianz National Football League Division 2 Round 6

CAVAN 2-20

OFFALY 3-15

OFFALY'S relegation back to Division 3 of the Allianz National Football League was confirmed following a two point defeat to Cavan in their penultimate group game at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Sunday.

Offaly certainly went down fighting and put in a tremendous second half effort against the wind to try and snatch victory and they were within minutes of doing so before a Cavan two pointer and another late point gave victory to the Breffni men.

There was a touch of controversy about that late Cavan two pointer as Ryan Donohoe's booming high effort headed goalwards but neither umpire seemed certain whether it was over or not. From our vantage point in the stand it was difficult to judge but after a lapse of a number of seconds referee Anthony Nolan signalled it was over and it put Cavan back in front.

It was tough luck on Offaly who had done their utmost in the second half to try and eke out a victory. That scenario didn't look too likely at half time when they only held a two point lead having played with the elements but they fought valiantly in the second half and never gave up when it looked like Cavan might pull away and they were unfortunate not to get anything out of the game.

With six defeats from six, Offaly will be back in Division 3 in 2027 but they will take some encouragement from this performance. They still have one more game to play, at home to Meath next Sunday, but that won't be of significance to Offaly now.

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Victory has given Cavan a fighting chance of avoiding relegation as they moved out of the bottom two and above Kildare. They have to travel to Derry next Sunday while Kildare host Louth, so their fate isn't fully secure yet.

Despite having the wind in the first half Offaly only held a two point lead at half time. They had done well to build up a six point lead after 24 minutes but Cavan dominated the latter stages of the half and added four points without reply to reduce Offaly's lead to two. Offaly were pinned back for a lot of that latter period but when they did get possession they too often kicked it away with wayward passes and Cavan came back at them again.

When Cavan levelled with a two pointer within 20 seconds of the restart it looked like it could be a long 35 minutes for Offaly but they knuckled down again and Diarmuid Egan's goal helped them back into a five point lead. The introductions of Shane Tierney and Marcas Dalton at half time certainly helped Offaly and they had some very good spells of possession in the second half. Cavan fought back to regain the lead with more than 10 minutes remaining but Offaly still didn't lie down and when Jack McEvoy netted with four minutes to go they were back in front. However Cavan notched those late points to seal the win.

Offaly played their better football against the wind in the second half and as mentioned those substitutions did play their part in that. They worked hard, were patient in possession but shooting into the wind was difficult. However they kept battling and never gave up and they were very nearly rewarded for that.

Cavan played very well in the first half, particularly in the latter part of the half, when crucially they cut Offaly's lead back from six to two. They didn't enjoy as much possession in attack in the second half but they took their scores well and their four two pointers were crucial scores.

Shane O'Toole Greene, Cormac Egan and Diarmuid Egan impressed in the Offaly defence, Aaron Leavy did some good work around the middle of the field and Dylan Hyland did very well in attack where Keith O'Neill and Jordan Hayes also worked hard.

Jason McLoughlin, Brian O'Connell and Ciaran Brady were best in defence for Cavan, Ryan Donohoe had an excellent game in the middle of the field and Oisin Brady and Gearoid McKiernan did well in defence.

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Cavan opened the scoring after a minute when Oisin Brady took a return pass from Paddy Lynch and pointed. Just over a minute later Offaly hit the front when Dylan Hyland scoored a two point free from 55m but Cavan were level quickly again when Ciaran Brady came forward to point.

Cavan got a goal after nine minutes when Oisin Brady's shot from the left looped over Conor Melia and landed in the net but Offaly were level again three minutes later when Dylan Hyland's cross from the left was flicked on with his fist by Aaron Leavy and into the net.

Offaly then went back in front when Dylan Hyland fired over a good two pointer and after Ryan Donohoe pulled one back for Cavan, Offaly had another goal chance when Ciaran Murphy's high ball was fisted by Rory Egan but goalkeeper Liam Brady made a good save. Darragh Flynn chipped in with a nice point and Dylan Hyland pointed a '45' before Darragh Flynn lofted over a two pointer and Ciaran Murphy gathered a great ball from Daire McDaid and popped over another to put Offaly 1-9 to 1-3 ahead after 24 minutes.

However, despite having the wind behind them they failed to add to their tally for the remainder of the half as Cavan came back. Gearoid McKiernan made a good catch and pointed and then Tiernan Madden and Oisin Brady kicked one each to narrow the gap to three. They had a goal chance but Conor Melia saved well from Padddy Lynch and Diarmuid Egan cleared the loose ball off the line. Peter Corrigan did add another point and the gap was down to two at half time, 1-9 to 1-7.

Within 20 seconds of the restart Cavan were level when Dara McVeety kicked a two pointer but Offaly responded well and Jordan Hayes and Dylan Hyland restored their two point lead. Then they struck for their second goal when good work by Shane Tierney set up Diarmuid Egan and he crashed his shot into the roof of the net.

Oisin Brady pulled one point back for Cavan, the only score in a 10 minute spell before Dylan Hyland was on target again for Offaly.

Entering the final quarter Cavan struck back. Ryan Donohoe sent a high ball into the goalmouth and with Paddy Lynch challenging Conor Melia the ball ended up in the net. Tiernan Madden quickly added a two pointer and the sides were level and Ciaran Brady fisted over the lead point and it was beginning to look grim for Offaly.

However they dug deep and Keith O'Neill drilled over two points, sandwiching a Paddy Lynch point, and the sides were level heading into the closing minutes. Ryan Donohoe's two pointer put Cavan ahead again but then Offaly struck for a third goal. Cormac Egan's ball across the square was punched by Harry Plunkett but was saved on the line. The ball bounced about before Jack McEvoy got a boot on it to send it to the net and Offaly were a point up.

Eoin Clarke levelled for Cavan but Jordan Hayes restored Offaly's one point lead before the disputed Ryan Donohue two pointer which put Cavan back in front and Emmanuel Shehu wrapped up the win with another point with the last kick of the game.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

CAVAN: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Brian O’Connell, Cormac Brady; Gerard Smith, Ciaran Brady, Conor Brady; Ryan Donohue, Gearoid McKiernan; Tiarnan Madden, Peter Corrigan, Oisin Brady; Ryan Tobin, Dara McVeety, Patrick Lynch. Subs. Emmanuel Shehu (for Peter Corrigan, 49 mins), Eoin Clarke (for Ryan Tobin, 50 mins), Cian Shekelton (for Oisin Brady, 58 mins), Ciaran Brady (Corofin) (for Gerard Smith, 64 mins).

OFFALY: Conor Melia; Shane O’Toole-Greene, David Dempsey, Conor Dunican; Cormac Egan, Diarmuid Egan, Daire McDaid; Jack McEvoy, Aaron Leavy; Rory Egan, Jordan Hayes, Keith O’Neill; Dylan Hyland, Ciaran Murphy, Darragh Flynn. Subs. Shane Tierney (for Ciaran Murphy, half time), Marcas Dalton (for Rory Egan, half time), Niall Furlong (for Conor Dunican, 47 mins), Harry Plunkett (for Darragh Flynn, 59 mins),

REFEREE: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

MAN OF THE MATCH

There were some fine performances on both teams over the 70 minutes. Oisin Brady was prominent for Cavan as was captain Ciaran Brady. Dylan Hyland kicked seven points for Offaly in a fine display with Keith O'Neill and Cormac Egan also prominent. But I've gone with Cavan midfielder Ryan Donohoe. When it came to the crunch he was the man who came up with the scores for Cavan, finishing with 1-5, including the goal that got them back into the game in the second half and the late two pointer that put them in front.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ryan Donohoe's late two pointer was the crucial score of the game. Offaly had just regained the lead heading into the closing minutes when Donohoe shot from about 50m out. It was a very high effort above the posts and it was difficult to judge whether it was between them or not, but the score was given and it was the one that eventually sealed the win for the Breffni men.

REFEREE WATCH

Anthony Nolan did a good job overall. He was consistent in his calls throughout, played the advantage well and dealt with any issues that needed dealing with and overall didn't have a bearing on the outcome of the game.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly are at home to Meath on Sunday next at 1.15pm while at the same time Cavan travel to play Derry at Celtic Park.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was in decent condition for the game. There were a couple of heavy showers before the game and during it but the sod was in good condition and held up well. There was a smallish crowd in for the game and all other arrangements were in the usual good order.

STATISTICS

Wides; Cavan 5 (1 in first half) Offaly 3 (2 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Cavan 1 (Dara McVeety) Offaly 3 (Jordan Hayes, David Dempsey, Keith O'Neill)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Cavan; Ryan Donohoe (1-5, 2 x 2pt), Oisin Brady (1-3), Tiernan Madden (0-3, 1 x 2pt), Ciaran Brady (0-2), Dara McVeety (0-2, 1 x 2pt), Gearoid McKiernan, Peter Corrigan, Paddy Lynch, Eoin Clarke, Emmanuel Shehu (0-1 each).

Offaly; Dylan Hyland (0-7, 1 x 2pt, 1 x 2ptf, 1 x '45'), Aaron Leavy, Diarmuid Egan, Jack McEvoy (1-0 each), Darragh Flynn (0-3, 1 x 2pt), Jordan Hayes, Keith O'Neill (0-2 each), Ciaran Murphy (0-1).

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