Dooley steers Offaly away from danger

Having let a nine point lead slip during a cruel loss to Wexford the previous week, Ollie Baker heaved a sigh of relief after his Offaly side survived a spirited Antrim revival in this Allianz League Division 1B encounter at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday.

Wind aided Offaly enjoyed a commanding 1-12 to 0-6 half time advantage and surged 1-17 to 0-8 ahead by the 48th minute. However, they failed to put gutsy Antrim to the sword and Jerry Wallace’s side, lifted by a scrappy goal from sub Declan Lynch, rallied and registered 1-5 without reply to leave four points separating the teams. Antrim, minus their Loughgiel Shamrocks contingent, got to within four points on three further occasions but Offaly got the vital points to see them home.

One of the first-half highlights was James Dempsey’s spectacular 14th minute diving save to divert Shane McNaughton’s strike for a ’65. Centre back Neil McManus (‘65) and Michael Herron pulled points back for the Glensmen (0-4 to 1-5).

Offaly eased 12 points clear (1-17 to 0-8) by the 48th minute but Antrim refused to go away, hitting 1-5 without reply to reduce the arrears to four points. Shane McNaughton (four – three frees and an excellent score from play) and McManus were on target with sub Declan Lynch goaling in the 59th minute. A great 60th minute Bergin point, 1-18 to 1-13, took the sting out of Antrim’s mini revival and both sides added four points apiece before the end.

Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley 1-10 (0-10 frees), J Bergin 0-4, B Murphy 0-3, J Mulrooney, C Mahon 0-2 each, R Hanniffy 0-1.

Scorers for Antrim: S McNaughton 0-10 (0-8 frees & 0-1 ’65), D Lynch 1-0, PJ O’Connell 0-2, N McManus 0-2 (0-1 ’65), P Shiels 0-2, M Herron 0-1.

OFFALY: J Dempsey; D Franks, D Kenny, C McDonald; D Morkan, R Hanniffy, S Wynne; D Horan, D Mooney; J Bergin, C Mahon, B Murphy; S Dooley, C Egan, J Mulrooney.

Subs: J Rigney for Mooney (26), S Coughlan for Wynne (48), S Ryan for Mulrooney (54), G Healion for Egan (60), B Harding for Morkan inj (69).

ANTRIM: S McToal; K McGourty, C Donnelly, A Graffan; N McAuley, N McManus, S McCrory; K Stewart, M Gettens; S McLoughlin, M Herron, D Hamill; S McNaughton, C McFall, PJ O’Connell.

Subs: P Shiels for McLoughlin (h/t), D Lynch for McFall (h/t), B McFall for Hamill (57).

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).