Pride shines through as Offaly dig deep to reel in Banner

‘OFFALY PRIDE’ was the key ingredient, according to manager Tom Cribbin, as his side rallied bravely to get the better of a David Tubridy-inspired Clare in this All-Ireland SFC Qualifier.

Clare enjoyed leads of 0-6 to 0-1 at half-time and 1-12 to 1-5 after 55 minutes, but Offaly dug deep and found reserves of heart to draw level on the stroke of full time thanks to impressive sub Graham Guilfoyle.

And during the opening half of extra time the ‘Faithful’ went score crazy, kicking seven points to Clare’s one but Clare bounced back in the second period of extra time as Barry Toner and the brilliant Tubridy (0-3) kicked four points on the trot but Offaly sealed the deal as Anton Sullivan curled over a beauty.

Both sides lost a player each during this spell – Clare’s Graham Kelly and Offaly’s Brian Darby seeing red – after they were penalised for second bookable offences.

It was Offaly’s first win in the qualifiers since 2004 when they defeated Kildare and relieved manager Cribbin admitted there was some harsh talking at half time.

Cribbin explained: “I didn’t have to say a terrible lot to them. We announced the three changes and I’ll be honest, selector Declan Farrell, a very passionate Offaly man, stood in just before they went out. He spoke and the players knew they kicked nine wides in the first half and they had also dropped two shots into the goalkeeper’s hands.

“So we were five behind (0-1 to 0-6) but we kicked 11 possible scoring opportunities away and Declan, in Offaly language, told them that. He wanted to see Offaly pride.

“You can’t beat one of your own letting them know how hurt he was. And the players felt it and they went out and released the shackles and took off. It took a while but it did happen.”

One of Offaly’s three half-time subs, David Egan, provided them with a lifeline, looping the ball over ‘keeper Joe Hayes for a 45th minute goal.

With McNamee (0-2), Casey (free) and McManus kicking points earlier it meant the ‘Faithful’ had clawed back to within a point, (1-5 to 0-9).

Clare responded magnificently, registering 1-3 without reply between the 48th and 55th minutes. That man Tubridy dispatched three points, bringing his tally to eight and sub Kevin Cahill rattled the net. Offaly fought back and incredibly they managed to level it and force extra-time. Ken Casey slammed home a 68th-minute goal after McNamee’s strike was palmed onto the crossbar and sub Graham Guilfoyle calmly clipped over the equaliser.

“Cork are the one team you’d really like to avoid,” said Cribbin. “We’d like to get another home fixture and I think we’ll improve an awful lot. The pressure will be off the players now and I think you’ll see a different team the next day.”

Offaly: A Mulhall; B Darby, S Brady, K Slattery (0-1); P Sullivan, R Brady, N Darby; B Geraghty (0-1), R Dalton; J Reynolds (0-1), B Connor, C McManus (0-3, 1f, 1'45); A Sullivan (0-1), K Casey (1-4, 4f), N McNamee (0-5).

Subs: S Pender for P Sullivan, G Guilfoyle (0-1) for Dalton, D Egan (1-1) for N Darby, P McConway for Geraghty, S Longeran for Slattery, A McNamee for Egan, N Dunne for A Sullivan.

Clare: J Hayes; M Tubridy, B Duggan, B Carrig; M McMahon, G Kelly, D Callinan; G Quinlan, G Brennan (0-1); D Daly, P O'Dwyer, A Clohessy (0-1); D Tubridy (0-12, 7f, 1'45), D Russell, D Molohan (0-1, f).

Subs: K Cahill (1-1) for Molohan, J Hayes for Russell, L Healy for Carrig, G Kelly (0-1) for Daly, B Clancy for Callinan, B Toner (0-1) for Clohessy, C Dunning for Clancy, S McNeilis for Duggan.

Ref: M Higgins (Fermanagh).