Fast improving Offaly book quarter-final slot with very encouraging derby win

A FAST improving Offaly side provided great grounds for encouragement with a very good derby win over Westmeath in their final group game in the Leinster Minor Football Championship at Kinnegad on Wednesday evening.

Leinster Minor Football Championship Group 2 round 3

Offaly 3-12

Westmeath 1-10

Displaying a terrific work ethic, Offaly's hunger was exemplary, their tackling and turnover ratio out of the top drawer as they got away for a fully deserved win over a fancied Westmeath side.

Offaly's win earns them a quarter-final slot with Westmeath in a preliminary quarter-final while Dublin scrape into the semi-finals by the skin of their teeth – these three teams tied on four points with the scoring difference from their games dictating places. Offaly had ample chances to have won by more and earn a semi-final place and could very easily have scored another two or three goals.

They won't be upset, however, at a quarter-final berth. The game won't do them any harm and Offaly's confidence will be flying after excellent performances in their last two games. After losing to Dublin in the first round, Offaly ran riot against Longford in the last game to secure qualification. Westmeath had two wins out of two and Offaly passed this examination with flying colours.

It was a super collective display while their strength and power right down the spine of the team was pivotal to the win. The sight of the outstanding Darragh Stewart being carried off near the end was very worrying and hopefully his injury is not as serious as it looks.

Offaly were quite brilliant in the first half and Westmeath seemed shocked by their work rate and intensity levels. Playing against the wind, Offaly controlled the game and were 2-5 to 0-5 ahead at the break. They could have been out of sight. John Carroll and Paddy Burns got in for the goals in the 1^st and 15^th minutes and they could have had another couple – Dara Waldron probably didn't realise how much space he had in front of him when hurrying his shot and screwing the ball wide in the 24^th minute.

Still a six point lead was a huge advantage with the wind to come and it was Offaly's to lose. We wondered would they be able to retain the same intensity but they did and it was only in the final ten minutes that fatigue showed.

The way Offaly kept Westmeath at arm's length was hugely impressive. They kept the scoreboard ticking over with the very lively Sean Monahan getting their third goal iun the 36^th minute. Offaly were 3-9 to 0-6 ahead after 42 minutes and had they held that advantage, they would have made the semi-finals.

They couldn't do that as they only managed three more points but they had other goal chances with Dara Waldron and Darragh Stewart missing clear chances. Westmeath's display frustrated their own support, though they had plenty of possession in the closing quarter. Darragh Murray got a consolation goal in the 54^th minute but it was a lucky one as he was shooting for point and it dipped in over the head of Ryan Casey.

A second goal might have given Westmeath a lifeline but Offaly continued to fight tigerishly for everything, breaking up field at pace. They were way hungrier than Westmeath and while a semi-final berth was within touch, it would be churlish to pick holes in this very promising display – with county hurlers Joe Furey and Keith O'Rourke now on the panel, Offaly will get stronger and they have a chance of retaining their title on current form.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Darragh Stewart (Offaly): Several contenders on the Offaly team with Oran Kenny, Cathal Carroll, John Carroll and Patrick Duffy all staking powerful claims. Cathal Carroll was magnificent at centre back and Kenny's full back play commanded complete respect.

The choice is centre forward Darragh Stewart, who just edges out Cathal Carroll. Stewart oozed quality on the ball, winning hard possession, bursting past tackles, setting up scores and getting a good point. The Tullamore club man inspired with his ball carrying and hopefully his injury is not bad.

There were several other players who impressed. Jake Conlon made some great blocks in defence and Jamie Harvey carried the ball forward very well while Evan Daly and Sean Monahan did trojan work in attack. Dara Waldron put in a great shift and on a different day, would get a much bigger reward for his possession.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Paddy Burns 1-5 (2 x 2pf, 1f), John Carroll and Sean Monahan 1-0 each, Oliver Goulding 0-2 (2f), Evan Daly, Darragh Stewart, Dara Waldron, Stephen Murrihy, Donnacha Seery 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Darragh Murray 1-0, Stephen McWade (2f) and Aaron Connaire 0-2 each, Cian McKeogh, Finn Brennan, Billy Stenson, Alex Mullen Adamson, Darragh Deegan and Mark Monaghan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Ryan Casey (Tullamore); Cormac Staunton (Clodiagh Gaels), Oran Kenny (Ferbane), Jake Conlon (Tullamore); Stephen Murrihy (Tullamore), Cathal Carroll (Erin Rovers), Jamie Harvey (Tullamore); John Carroll (Clara), Patrick Duffy (Tullamore); Evan Daly (Ballycumber), Darragh Stewart (Tullamore), Oliver Goulding (Edenderry); Dara Waldron (Ferbane), Paddy Burns (Daingean), Sean Monahan (Edenderry). Subs – Sean O'Shea (Shannonbridge) for Monahan (39m), Donnacha Seery (Edenderry) for Goulding (45m), Joe Furey (Edenderry) for Murrihy (55m) , Hugh Kelly (Kilclonfert) for Stewart, inj. (62m).

WESTMEATH: Tom McCaul; Tom Weir, Tomás Brennan, Louie Dillon; Cian McKeogh, Eoghan Daly, Gary Staunton; Finn Brennan; Billy Stenson; Dean Kelly, Daragh Murray , Conor Cleary; Stephen McWade, Aaron Connaire, Alex Mullen Adamson. Subs – Mark Monaghan for Staunton (20m), Darragh Deegan for Brennan (42m), Hugo Corroon for Mullen Adamson (48m).

Referee – Ryan Moran, Kildare.

REFEREE WATCH

Ryan Moran had a very good game, allowing play to flow and applying lengthy advantages consistently. Cian McKeogh could have got a black and not a yellow when fouling Dara Waldron in the 21^st minute but Moran's refereeing contributed to a free flowing game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Sean Monahan's 36^th minute goal really killed off the Westmeath challenge. It gave Offaly a 3-5 to 0-5 lead and it would have taken a serious collapse to lose from here.

VENUE WATCH

They could have pulled the throw in time back to 7pm and played it comfortably in daylight but the game was well hosted in Kinnegad and there were no issues with the venue.

WHAT'S NEXT

Both sides were assured of qualification before hand with Offaly now in the quarter-finals and Westmeath going the preliminary quarter-final route..

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 6 (4 in first half); Westmeath - 8 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Westmeath – 2 (Cian McKeogh, Dara Deegan).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0