Offaly Footballers Defeat Antrim

Offaly kept their hopes of promotion alive with a hard earned one point win over table toppers Antrim in O'Connor Pk, Tullamore on Sunday last. Offaly trailed by 1-4 to 0-4 at half time, having conceded a 11th minute penalty which Patrick Cunningham slotted past Alan Mulhall in the Offaly goal. Right through the second half it looked as though that goal would be the difference as Antrim maintained that lead until seven minutes from time when David Egan kicked over his third point to cut the deficit to two. The three minutes from time Ciaran McManus was fouled in the square and Niall McNamee duly slotted the resulting penalty to the net. Offaly survived a late Antrim onslaught to gain a valuable two points on a 1-9 to 1-8 scoreline. Offaly Team: Alan Mulhall; Stephen Lonergan, Shane Sullivan, Ciaran Kiely; Brian Darby, Karol Slattery, Paul McConway; Richie Dalton, John Coughlan; Anton Sullivan, Paraic Sullivan, Ciaran McManus; David Egan, John Reynolds, Niall McNamee. Substitutes used: Alan Lynam for Paraic Sullivan, Brian Connor for Stephen Lonergan, Scott Brady for John Coughlan. Referee: Thomas Quigley (Dublin)Meanwhile on Saturday the Offaly Senior Hurlers went down to Galway on a scoreline of 1-22 to 1-18.

Offaly hurled well in the second half but left themselves with too much to do against Galway in the National Hurling League at Pearse Park on Saturday, 20th March.

Offaly trailed by eight points at half time, but cut the gap to four at the end. In addition, Offaly failed to score a goal from two 20 metre frees late on and Joe Bergin almost grabbed a goal in the dying moments as Offaly pressed hard.

However, Galway's victory was mainly down to their dominance in a 15 minute period before half time. During that spell, they turned a slender 1-6 to 0-7 advantage into a 1-13 to 0-8 half time lead.

Offaly did well in the opening 20 minutes, with wing back Derek Morkan standing out with two outstanding points.

But they gradually fell away and left themselves with a mountain to climb after the resumption. The introduction of subs helped Offaly and a Joe Brady goal midway through the second half brought Offaly back into contention.

Nevertheless, Offaly had to settle for defeat and now must focus on a home tie against Limerick next Sunday.

Offaly scorers: Joe Bergin, Brian Carroll and Shane Dooley (3f) 0-4 each; Joe Brady 1-1; Derek Morkan 0-2; Derek Molloy, Conor Mahon and Rory Hanniffy 0-1 each.

Offaly: Brian Mullins; James Rigney, David Kenny, Michael Verney; Ger Oakley, Paul Cleary, Derek Morkan; Derek Molloy, Rory Hanniffy; Brian Carroll, Kevin Brady, Conor Mahon; Shane Dooley, Joe Bergin, Daniel Currams.

Substitutes used: Joe Brady for Derek Molloy; David Franks for Kevin Brady; Ger Healion for Daniel Currams; Cathal Parlon for Conor Mahon; Dylan Hayden for Ger Oakley.