Quality tells as Tyrone overcome gallant Offaly

Offaly 0-12 Tyrone 2-15

The home side distinguished themselves for three-quarters of this well-contested game.

Ultimately the enhanced strength of the All-Ireland champions following the interval introduction of Owen Mulligan, Kevin Hughes and Gerard Cavlan saw them surge into an unassailable lead in the last ten minutes. The control they exerted was to ensure their first points of the campaign before Cavlan scored their second goal in injury time.

Offaly coach Kevin Kilmurray was justifiably proud of his team, saying they had played ‘exceptionally well’. While they had failed to score against Dublin last week until the 52nd minute, this time they led all the way from the 6th to the 21st minute of the second half.

“We didn’t deserve to be beaten by that score,’’ he said. “But this is the level we have to get up to and I would love to have a massive panel like they have. That is what we are aiming for.”

Mickey Harte agreed that the scoreline was ‘hard’ on Offaly, saying: “they were not that far behind us.”On the issue of their ‘suspended’ players being free to play, the Tyrone manager explained that it would have been ‘unfair’ on the players selected for the (postponed) Cork game not to be given their chance. “The other players were on stand-by. And when you have quality like that you don’t look at it for 70 minutes,” he commented.

With stand-in captain Ryan McMenamin operating at right half-forward, Tyrone went into an early lead through the industrious Brian McGuigan. He was also to get their second score in the 11th minute, but by then Offaly had added three quick scores - the third a great 50 yards free kick off the ground by Ciaran McManus.

With Tyrone finding it hard to get into a rhythm it wasn’t a surprise to see the home side three points in front in the 23rd minute - again following another splendid free kick from McManus.

Tyrone were often under pressure in defence thanks to the strong play of Offaly team captain Karl Slattery at left half-back, the contribution of Alan McNamee at midfield and the strong play of Thomas Deehan and Niall McNamee in the corners.

Scores were level for the second time in the 28th minute and, after Offaly twice went in front, Tyrone pegged them back to see the half-time score at 0-8 each.

Interestingly, while Mulligan and Hughes came in at corner-forward and Cavlan at wing-forward, it was Offaly who seized the early initiative with scores from Deehan (free) and John Reynolds. And, to their credit, their strong work ethic and support play saw them retain their advantage until 15 minutes from the end of normal time. However, during this period Tyrone promised a goal when Mulligan crossed to McGuigan who fell as he was tackled and lost possession.

Cavanagh had them level in the 56th minute and Mulligan gave them the lead two minutes later. O’Neill, emerging as their star performer ahead of the impressive Conor Gormley at full-back, added another and then came their first goal in the 63rd minute. Martin Penrose was the scorer and Cavlan set him up with a well-directed pass.

And, to rub salt into Offaly wounds, Cavlan rounded off an impressive Tyrone rally with a second goal, after McGuigan similarly set him up with a superb crossfield pass.

It mightn’t have been fair on the home side, but they couldn’t deny that Tyrone had the quality when it mattered.

* Gerry Kinneavy’s refereeing suffered from a little inconsistency and missed occasional incidents off the ball. But, he set out to be strict and issued eight yellow cards as well as a succession of ‘ticks’.

Scorers: Tyrone: S. O’Neill 0-8 (0-4 frees); M. Penrose 1-1; G. Cavlan 1-0; B. McGuigan, S. Cavanagh and O. Mulligan 0-2 each. Offaly: C. McManus 0-4 frees; T. Deehan 0-3 (0-2 frees); N. McNamee 0-2; J. Coughlan, R. Connor (free) and J. Reynolds 0-1 each.

OFFALY: K. Meehan; G. Rafferty, S. Casey, N. Grennan; N. Coughlan, S. Brady, K. Slattery (capt.); C. McManus, A. McNamee; J. Reynolds, P. Kellaghan, L. Mooney; T. Deehan, R. Connor, N. McNamee.

Subs: C. Quinn for Connor (45th minute); S. Ryan for Deehan (53rd); S. Sullivan for Kellaghan (62nd); J. Coughlan for Reynolds (68th).

TYRONE: J. Devine; D. Carlin, C. Gormley, E. Bradley; D. Harte, G. Devlin, P. Jordan; B. Meenan, C. Gourley; R. McMenamin (capt.), B. McGuigan, S. Cavanagh; M. Penrose, S. O’Neill, R. Mellon.

Subs: K. Hughes for Mellon, O. Mulligan for Devlin ad G. Cavlan for Bradley (second half); C. Holmes for Meenan (56th).

Referee: G. Kinneavey (Galway).