Offaly reach Division Two final

Offaly 1-16 Kildare 1-08

Offaly will join Down in the Allianz NFL Division Two final thanks to a late James Coughlan goal to claim the scalp of Leinster rivals Kildare on a score line of 1-16 to 1-08.

Kildare were to prove to be a disappointment throughout, relying heavily on the placed ball heroics of full forwards Padraig Brennan and John Doyle, as they hit just two points from play in the first half.

Two Brennan frees landed them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after eight minutes, but tight defence from Offaly saw just three more scores coming Kildare’s way in the opening 35.

James Grennan began to prosper at midfield and Roy Malone and Colm Quinn opened the Offaly account on 11 and 13 minutes.

Ciaran Dempsey and Doyle sandwiched another Quinn effort before centre half-forward Malone almost stole in for a goal in the 24th minute.

Kildare goalkeeper Enda Murphy partially blocked his shot but it was corner back Andrew McLoughlin who saved the day with a goal line clearance from Malone’s rebound attempt.

Quinn (0-5, four frees in the first half), Alan McNamee and Barry Mooney all found their range, however, to leave Kildare trailing 0-8 to 0-5 at the break.

A run of three successive Offaly points from Malone, Neville Coughlan (0-2) and half forward Paschal Kelleghan put increased daylight between the sides immediately after the restart at 0-12 to 0-6, with Brennan hitting the Lillywhites’ reply.

Young Clara forward Thomas Deehan was to come on to good effect in the final quarter as he hit two points.

Kildare upped their game with a 59th minute goal, as a move begun by half back Karl Ennis and moved to Morgan O’Sullivan was eventually finished to the net by Tadhg Fennin to see them 1-06 to 0-14 down.

Kildare increased their tally with scores from Doyle and Brennan again, but a 13-metre Niall McNamee free, Deehan’s second point and a driven goal by Coughlan with four minutes remaining, completed Offaly’s passage through.