Donohoe two-pointer condemns Offaly to the drop as Cavan keep fate in their own hands

The only thing darker than the nimbostratus overhead was the mood of the two support bases, united by their rising discontent.

Sun, 15 Mar, 2026 - 17:32

Kevin Egan at Glenisk O’Connor Park

NFL Division 2: OFFALY 3-15 (3-3-9) CAVAN 2-20 (2-4-12)

Cavan have their Division Two fate in their own hands, Offaly have made an immediate return to the third tier of the National League after their sixth defeat in succession rendered their final round clash with Meath moot, at least from their perspective.

That much was exactly as everyone expected, and when that predictability was added to the hail and rain that pelted sideways along the ground in Tullamore yesterday, it was hardly surprising that one of the smallest crowds of the National League so far made their way to Glenisk O’Connor Park. The only thing darker than the nimbostratus overhead was the mood of the two support bases, united by their rising discontent.

At least Cavan had been competitive in their games, for the most part, so they were bestowed with the label of heavy favourites. The finish, however, was not what anyone expected. An Offaly side that was well-beaten by Louth, Cork, Kildare and Tyrone and humiliated by Derry, found something for the second half of this game, and in the end it was a hotly-disputed Ryan Donohoe two-pointer that separated the teams.

Offaly’s 1-9 to 1-7 half-time lead was deceptive. The home side played with a gale, and while Dylan Hyland – the team’s top scorer in 2025 - returned from injury to kick 0-7, including a pair of first half two-pointers, it was Cavan who would have been elated with the opening 35 minutes.

Their goal, scored by Oisín Brady from 30 metres out, was entirely down to a misjudgement of the ball by Conor Melia in the Offaly goal. Misery piled upon a season of misery.

Aaron Leavy hit back in kind for Offaly with a subtle flick on Hyland's high delivery, but from 1-9 to 1-4 behind after 25 minutes, Cavan played their best football before half-time, chipping over three points with controlled, measured football that left Offaly chasing shadows. When Dara McVeety levelled the game with a floating kick from 50 metres on the first attack of the second half, they looked set to skate home.

But out of nowhere, an Offaly team that Shane Tierney and Marcas Dalton were impressive after coming off the bench, Diarmuid and Cormac Egan took over in the middle third, and they started to own the ball and frustrate Cavan. It was still impossible to score from anywhere more than 25 metres out from goal, but despite this Offaly stayed in touch, with Diarmuid Egan and Donohoe trading goals, the latter another terrible misjudgement from Melia.

Despite Offaly’s best efforts, Cavan looked to have done enough when Donohoe fired over from distance to lead by two, but while the midlanders missed one goal chance when Tierney rattled the crossbar, they didn’t miss their next, Jack McEvoy their scorer after his first attempt was parried by Liam Brady.

Suddenly, with the clock ticking past 69 minutes, Cavan needed a miracle.

Again, Donohoe delivered – or at least, after consultation with his officials, Anthony Nolan decided that he did, drawing the ire of the home team and crowd. The kick, hoisted from out beside the stand and outside the 45, sailed into the clouds and was very close to the right hand post, but once the orange flag waved, Cavan had ridden out the storm, and a late point from Emmanuel Shehu confirmed their second win of the campaign.

Scorers for Offaly: D Hyland 0-7 (1tpf, 1tp, 1 45), A Leavy 1-0, D Egan 1-0, J McEvoy 1-0, D Flynn 0-3 (1tp), K O’Neill 0-2, J Hayes 0-2, C Murphy 0-1

Scorers for Cavan: R Donohoe 1-5 (2tp), O Brady 1-3, T Madden 0-3 (1tp), D McVeety 0-2 (tp), Ciarán Brady (Arva) 0-2, G McKiernan 0-1, P Corrigan 0-1, P Lynch 0-1, E Clarke 0-1, E Shehu 0-1.

Offaly: C Melia; S O’Toole Greene, C Dunican, D Dempsey; D McDaid, D Egan, C Egan; J McEvoy, J Hayes; R Egan, D Hyland, A Leavy; D Flynn, C Murphy, K O’Neill.

Subs: S Tierney for Murphy (half-time), M Dalton for R Egan (half-time), N Furlong for Dunican (46), H Plunkett for Flynn (56)

Cavan: L Brady; B O’Connell, Cormac Brady, J McLoughlin; R Tobin, Ciarán Brady (Arva), T Madden; R Donohoe, G Smith; Conor Brady, D McVeety, P Corrigan; O Brady, G McKiernan, P Lynch.

Subs: E Clarke for O’Connell (6-12, temp), E Shehu for Corrigan (48), E Clarke for Tobin (49), C Shekleton for O Brady (55), Ciarán Brady (Corofin) for Smith (61).

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)