Offaly need extra time to get past gutsy Antrim

Offaly 2-26 Antrim 3-16 (after extra-time)

Antrim's quest for a first Championship win over Offaly since 1989 ended in extra-time heartbreak as they lost this exhaustive Leinster SHC quarter-final tussle at Parnell Park.

It was all about the Saffrons for the vast majority of this game as Offaly seemed stunned by the sheer work ethic and skill of Dinny Cahill's charges.

However, Offaly stole a march on the northerners in extra-time, thanks to a Rory Hanniffy goal and substitutes Odhran Kealey and Ger Healion also chipped in with vital points.

Antrim looked odds on for a shock victory deep in the second half of normal time, when Shane McNaughton's fifth point of the afternoon put two between the sides.

However, a late Dylan Hayden point and a last-gasp Shane Dooley score levelled the tie for Offaly and ensured extra-time.

It was in extra-time where Offaly finally seized some sort of control. Dogged by injuries and players going down with cramp, Antrim could not maintain the electrifying pace with which they began this contest.

The super-charged Saffrons hit the ground running to claim a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after just six minutes, leaving Offaly shellshocked. Full-forward Neil McManus was in superb form, getting this blockbuster off the ground with a second minute point.

Johnny Campbell pointed a long range free soon after, with the majestic McManus' powerfully-struck sixth minute goal, teed up by McNaughton, edging Antrim into a five-point lead.

But Offaly responded in impressive fashion, hitting the next six points with top scorer Shane Dooley in sparkling form.

Indeed, Offaly's first goal arrived from the stick of Dooley to push the Faithfuls 1-6 to 1-2 ahead by the end of the first quarter.

Antrim stayed in touch, however, and were the better side before the break. Goals from Colm McFall and Karl McKeegan, inside an action-packed three-minute spell, sent the Saffrons 3-9 to 1-12 in front for half-time.

McFall finished to the net in the 32nd minute, after Thomas McCann's initial effort had come back off the post. For Antrim's third goal, McKeegan ended a good team move by rasping a superb strike to the back of the Offaly net.

Offaly manager Joe Dooley opted to replace his goalkeeper Brian Mullins on the restart, with James Dempsey introduced, but Antrim extended their lead thanks to scores from Stewart and Neil McAuley.

Joe Bergin had the ball in the Antrim net in the 42nd minute, but the Seir Kieran clubman was denied a much-needed goal when referee Anthony Stapleton and his umpires adjudged that he was in the square.

Offaly needed to catch a break and Antrim goalkeeper Gareth McGhee was not about to give it to them. He produced a terrific save in the 46th minute to block out Rory Hanniffy's goal-bound effort.

Shane Dooley grabbed a point back for Offaly, bringing his tally to 1-5, but Offaly were reduced to 14 men shortly afterwards.

Wing forward Derek Molloy was sent to the line, earning his second yellow card for a wild swing on Antrim midfielder Karl Stewart.

Despite Stewart claiming the next score, which propelled his side into a 3-12 to 1-13 lead, Offaly dug deep to register four unanswered points - all from the talismanic Dooley.

Dooley's string of scores ensured the deficit was cut to the minimum, but Antrim kept ahead thanks to scores from McNaughton and Kieran McGourty.

Indeed, Antrim were unlucky not to extend their lead even further, as Joey Scullion was thwarted by Offaly goalkeeper James Dempsey in the 65th minute. Substitute Liam Watson, a welcome addition to the Saffrons side, also misfired on three occasions in the closing six minutes.

Antrim led by 3-15 to 1-19 a minute into injury-time, with McNaughton rifling over, but Hayden and Dooley pulled Offaly back from the jaws of defeat with two nerveless efforts.

Antrim were second best in extra-time, however, and Offaly showed renewed energy after Hanniffy netted to give his side a lead they would not relinquish.

Joe Dooley's charges led by 2-23 to 3-15 at half-time in extra-time, and despite the efforts of Brian McFall for Antrim, subsequent scores from Kealey (0-2) and Healion confirmed a hard-fought seven-point success for Offaly which sets them up for a crack at Galway on Sunday, June 20.

OFFALY: B Mullins; D Franks, P Cleary, M Verney; J Rigney, D Kenny, D Morkan; R Hanniffy (1-1), K Brady (0-3); D Currams, J Brady, D Molloy (0-1); B Carroll (0-3), J Bergin (0-3), S Dooley (1-10, 0-5f, 0-2 '65').

Subs used: B Murphy for Hanniffy (35 mins-half-time, blood sub), B Murphy for Currams, J Dempsey for Mullins (both half-time), G Healion (0-1) for Carroll (45), C Parlon (0-1) for J Brady (53), D Hayden (0-1) for K Brady (68); O Kealey (0-2) for Parlon (82), S Egan for Verney (89), S Kelly for Murphy (90).

ANTRIM: G McGhee; K McGourty (0-1), C Donnelly, A Graffin; N McAuley (0-1), J Campbell (0-2, 0-1f, 0-1 '65'), C Herron; P Shiels, K Stewart (0-2); E McCloskey, T McCann, J Scullion; S McNaughton (0-5, 0-2f), N McManus (1-4, 0-2f), K McKeegan (1-0).

Subs used: C McFall (1-0) for McCloskey (23 mins), L Watson for McCann (half-time), B McFall (0-1) for C McFall (70+1, blood sub); E McCloskey for C McFall, S McCrory for Shields (both 71), B McFall for Stewart (77), C McFall for McCrory, K Stewart for McCloskey (both 80).

Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Laois)