Offaly keep composure in dramatic finale
“We’d have to give credit to Offaly, over the course of the 70 minutes they edged it,” conceded Clare manager Colm Collins afterwards, though his side must have fancied their chances after the St Joseph’s corner-forward slammed the ball to the roof of the net with one minute of normal time still to play.
Seven minutes of injury-time were added by referee Brendan Cawley due to a lengthy stoppage for a head injury to Offaly’s Bernard Allen. But while supporters on both sides were hugely relieved to see Allen make his way off the field with assistance after he lay motionless for over four minutes, the enforced break turned out to be hugely helpful to the Clare cause.
