GAA: Determined Dublin hold on as Offaly let chances slip

The outcome of the first of the Leinster football semi-finals in Croke Park yesterday had as much to do with Dublin achieving their victory as Offaly allowed a chance of advancing to slip through their fingers.

Offaly, in fact, came agonisingly close to snatching victory when midfielder Ciaran McManus, from his third chance of a goal, blew the ball high outside the post from the edge of the square.

The game turned in Dublin’s favour 15 minutes from the end, at a stage when the sides were level and Offaly wasted two opportunities of scores. They manufactured three good scores and from there to the end it was primarily a matter of holding out until the final whistle.

It proved to be a close and exciting contest all the way through, without ever reaching a high standard.

Dublin were once more limited by inconsistency, while Offaly were able to maintain a strong challenge through dogged determination and some skilful play, with newer players like outstanding defender Karl Slattery making an important contribution.

And, it was ironic that Dublin should score the only goal - questionable because of a possible square infringement - since Offaly had far more opportunities of putting the ball in the net.

With Ian Robertson passed fit to start at full-forward, in a re-arranged attack featuring only Colin Moran in his chosen position, Dublin struggled for a long time to find their rhythm.

Offaly made a bright start, with Finbarr Cullen prominent at centre-back, and they had three points on the board before Wayne McCarthy kicked over a close-in free in the 18th minute.

Notably, Vinny Claffey hadn’t made much progress over this period, no more than any of the Dublin forwards, but he was to make an impact after Offaly started to gain control at halfback, at midfield and in the half-forward line.

Sean Grennan, switched from midfield at the start, was winning good ball, while Ciaran McManus was bettering Ciaran Whelan (who didn’t finish and was diagnosed as having suffered from concussion following a tackle as early as the second minute).

Team captain Colm Quinn was hugely influential in the Offaly half-forward line until he was injured late in the half.

Dublin managed to be level (at 0-4 each) by the 27th minute. Interestingly, the second of two scores from Dessie Farrell came after he had been moved to right corner-forward.

It signalled a definite improvement from the Dublin forwards, which saw Robertson make some good openings, and both wing-forwards providing solid support.

A steady improvement overall saw Coman Goggins impress at left corner-back, along with Paul Curran and Jonathan McGee at half-back, while Darren Homan was to the forefront at midfield.

The net effect was to make Dublin much more competitive.

They led for the first time in the 29th minute, through Senan Connell and, for the first time, were performing well as a unit. Nevertheless, they still found it hard to get scores because of the effectiveness of Offaly’s defending, with Slattery very successful in the left corner in limiting an in-form Jason Sherlock and the experienced Cathal Daly very steady in the other corner.

Dublin finished the half 0-6 to 0-5 in front, with McCarthy pointing an easy free won by Sherlock when a threatening run at goal (after Farrell cleverly played the ball to him) was stopped in time. Surprisingly, Dublin failed to sustain their improvement and even after Robertson goaled five minutes into the second half to open up a four points gap, Offaly showed skill and character in bravely fighting back to level within thirteen minutes.

Claffey was influential once more, Grennan was a powerful figure around midfield and McManus’ attacking flair seeing him hit good shot at goal which was easily saved by Stephen Cluxton.

However, after having drawn level in the 54th minute, substitute Roy Malone wasted a quick free and McManus hit a powerful low shot wide off the butt of the upright. That was in the 57th minute and within six minutes Dublin were three points clear. The most crucial stage of the game had been reached and it was the home team who had gained the psychological advantage.

Remarkably, while one of these scores had been gifted by full-back Barry Malone after he lost the ball to Sherlock, Offaly still had the temperament to come storming back. McManus put over a fifty and Malone pointed after a strong run had seen him kick into the side-netting a few minutes earlier.

Dublin’s forwards had been guilty of losing valuable possession when they were on the offensive and Offaly failed to make the most from several late attacks they mounted. Vinny Murphy kicked over an injury-time free to put Dublin two points clear and but for McManus’s amazing miss after nearly 40 minutes play, they might very well have been included in the qualifier draw last night.

Referee Pat McEnaney was always up with the play, generally in control and fairly accurate in his calls. A crowd of 32,128 attended.