National Football League Division 3: Offaly 0-10, Longford 0-10
A draw may have been a fair result in Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, but Offaly were pushing hard for the win as the second half progressed.
They were left to rue a blistering shot from Conor McNamee rebounding off the upright when a goal would surely have resulted in victory for the home team.
Longford, inspired by midfielder Darren Gallagher, were the better team in the first half despite playing against the wind. A downpour before the throw-in didn’t help the players and the action was uninspiring for most of the opening 35 minutes.
Longford got their noses in front, 0-4 to 0-3, in the 20th minute and deserved to lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at half time.
After 40 minutes, Longford were ahead by 0-8 to 0-6 after 40 minutes, but Offaly were the better side from here to the finish. Anton Sullivan had another productive outing as the Faithful County hit four of the last six points, including Niall Darby’s superb 66th minute equaliser.
OFFALY: P Dunican; D Dempsey, E Rigney, C Doyle; E Carroll, D Hogan, N Darby (0-1); C Mangan,
M Brazil; S Horan, R McNamee (0-2, 1f); J Hayes; B Allen (0-4, 3f), A Sullivan (0-3), C Johnson. Subs
– C McNamee for Johnson (33m), C Donoghue for Hayes (52m), C Donnelly for Sullivan (75m).
National Hurling League Division 2A: Kerry 2-11, Offaly 0-14
Offaly hurlers had another disappointing trip to Tralee when they were beaten by three points in Division 2A of the National League.
Playing with the aid of a very strong wind in the first half, Offaly were leading by 0-9 to 0-2 approaching the interval, with Eoghan Cahill chipping in with six of those. However, Kerry hit an injury-time goal to leave it 0-10 to 1-3 at the half way stage.
Early in the second half, despite hurling against the elements, Offaly added to their tally through Brian Duignan and Cahill. But Kerry hit a second goal and then Michael Fennelly’s side were reduced to 14 men, with Cillian Kiely picking up a second yellow card.
Kerry dominated from then on and won by three points, leaving Offaly requiring a positive result at home to Antrim in two weeks time.
Offaly: J Dempsey; M Cleary, D Egan, A Flynn; D King, B Conneely, D Doughan; C Kiely, S Kinsella; T Geraghty, P Geraghty, O Kelly; S Cleary, L Langton, E Cahill.
Subs used: M Egan, B Duignan, K Dunne, D Nally, L Fox.
