Offaly run riot but tougher tests lie ahead

Offaly 6-21 Carlow 4-7

“Part of me feels sorry for beating them by so much,” said Offaly coach John McIntyre, “but we needed a big win this evening, to build up some sort of confidence for the championship.”

Offaly playing with the strong wind, put Carlow on the back foot from the off. It was 2-11 to no score after 23 minutes, a pointed free by wing-forward Pat Coady finally opening the Carlow account. They managed two goals in four minutes to spark hopes of recovery, but two rapid-fire Offaly goals in reply from Damien Murray and Joe Brady, put the kibosh on that. The half-time scoreline of 4-13 to 2-3 said it all.

Offaly continued in that vein in the second half with two goals from Brady and substitute Dylan Hayden and a succession of points.

Carlow finished strongly and deserved the late goals from Robert Foley and Brendan Lawler, but manager Eoin Garvey wasn’t to be consoled.

“Yes we got some good individual performances, but we didn’t play as well as we can; then again, sure, we weren’t left play either. Wind or no wind you don’t expect to get that sort of a lashing. The game was over at half-time, it was just a question of trying to restore pride at that stage. We’ll go away now, have our night out, think about it, and if we can learn from it, that’s a plus.”

Next up for Eoin Garvey and Carlow, Wicklow in the Christy Ring Cup on June 4, the new Tier Two championship competition. There’s a tougher game in Offaly’s future, as McIntyre acknowledged.

“This is miles, miles removed from what we can expect in Croke Park on June 12 against Kilkenny, but at least we’re aware of that. This is the first step, and hopefully we can build on it. But everyone is realistic, we know the form Kilkenny are in, I’m asking everybody I meet to start saying prayers, novenas, decades of the rosary for us.”

Scorers for Offaly: J. Brady 2-5; D. Murray 1-5 (0-3 frees); B. Murphy 1-1; C. Parlon 1-0; D. Hayden 1-0; B. Carroll 0-3; M. Cordial 0-2; C. Cassidy 0-2 (0-1 free); R. Hanniffy 0-2; N. Claffey 0-1.

Carlow: P. Coady 0-5 (0-2 sideline, 0-1 free); P. Dunbar, P. Kehoe, R. Foley, B. Lawler, 1-0 each; D. Roberts, S. Kavanagh, 0-1 each.

OFFALY: B. Mullins; K. Brady, B. Teehan (c), D. Franks; D. Hoctor, N. Claffey, C. Cassidy; B. Carroll, M. Cordial; G. Hanniffy, R. Hanniffy, B. Murphy; C. Parlon, J. Brady, D. Murray. Subs: D. Hayden (Murray (60); P. Mulhare (Cassidy 61); G. Oakley (Claffey 62); A. Hanrahan (R. Hanniffy 65); M. Corcoran (Murphy 66); P. Healion (Franks 66).

CARLOW: P. Fenlon; A. Gaul, J. Nevin, D. Shaw; M. Keating, S. Kavanagh, S. Watchorn; D. Roberts, R. Foley; P. Kehoe, D. Murphy, P. Coady; C. English, M. Brennan, R. Dunbar. Subs: L. Kenny (Watchorn 28); B. Lawler (Dunbar 44); S. Kavanagh (Kehoe 50); B. Cox (Keating 54); J. Meyers (Brennan 55).

Referee: E. Morris (Dublin).