Allianz Football League Division 3
Down 0-17, Offaly 0-9
Down convincingly defeated Offaly at Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, as the boosted their promotion hopes with a convincing eight point win.
It was a game that never really sparked to life, as Down never looked like not coming away with the two points despite having two players sent to the sin bin for two separate 10 minute stints.
Barry O’Hagan was the man in form for the Mourne men as the wing forward helped himself to six points. He was a thorn in the Offaly defence and the powerful running game from the likes of O’Hagan and James Guinness had Offaly reeling.
Down played with the strong wind in the opening half and had a decent 0-11 to 0-2 buffer at half time as Offaly struggled to break through the mass Down defence.
O’Hagan tore the Faithful County apart in that opening half but the home side did try hard to get themselves back into the game after half time.
Ruairi McNamee kicked a couple of frees and with Corey Quinn spurning a goal chance at the other end, Offaly had it back to a six point game – 0-13 to 0-7. Peter Cunningham, making his first appearance of this league campaign, had a half-chance of a goal, which Down blocked.
Down upped it a gear for the final 20 minutes and with Offaly wing back Eoin Carroll picking up his second yellow card, there was no way back for the home team.
Liam Kerr, Connaire Harrison and Owen McCabe all kicked points in the closing 10 minutes as Down eased to victory.
The Scorers
Down: B O’Hagan 0-6 (0-4 Frees), J Guinness 0-3, C Quinn 0-2, C Doherty 0-1, L Kerr 0-3 (0-1 Free), O McCabe 0-1, C Harrison 0-1.
Offaly: R McNamee 0-3 (Frees), A Sullivan 0-2, M Brazil 0-1, E Carroll 0-1, A Leavy 0-1, B Allen 0-1 (Free).
DOWN: R Burns; R McAleenan, P Murdock, K McKernan; J Guinness, G Collins, P Fegan; D Guinness, C Poland; J Flynn, C Doherty, B McArdle; L Kerr, B O’Hagan, C Quinn. Subs: O McCabe for J Flynn (51 mins), A Morgan for K McKernan (55 mins), P Delvin for C Doherty (58 mins), C Harrison for C Quinn (61 mins), N Donnelly for P Murdock (inj 65 mins).
OFFALY: P Dunican; C Doyle, E Rigney, D Hogan; E Carroll, D Dempsey, N Darby; C McNamee, M Brazil; S Horan, P Cunningham, C Mangan; A Sullivan, B Allen, R McNamee. Subs: Subs: A Leavy for C McNamee (44 mins), C Johnson for A Sullivan (60 mins), C Donnelly for M Brazil (60 mins), C Donohue for P Cunningham (70 mins), S Nally for C Doyle (72 mins).
Referee: James Corrigan (Cork).
By Offaly PRO Sun 1st Mar
