Down 5-19 Offaly 2-10An 18-point defeat to Down at O'Connor Park, Tullamore, on Saturday ended Offaly's football championship interest after a dismal display by the midland side.

The pattern of the game was quickly established. After 55 seconds John Fegan pointed a Down free to open the scoring . By the 11th minute the Ulster side raced to a 1-5 to 0-0 lead, the goal scored by Danny Hughes.

Down had scored two more goals, through John Clarke and Kevin McKernan, by half-time to build up a 3-12 to 0-4 lead.

Although Offaly fared better when backed by the wind their revival was short lived as Down had a fourth goal from Brendan Coulter.

With the game safely wrapped up Down eased off and Pascal Kellaghan availed of the opportunity to score two home goals before Ronan Sexton rounded off Down's scoring with a goal.

DOWN:B McVeigh; M Cole, C Murney, L Howard; P Murphy, A Carr (0-2), K McGuigan; D Gordon (0-2), A Rodgers (0-1); J Fegan (0-2, one free), K McKernan (1-2), D Hughes (1-1); J Clarke (1-3), R Murtagh (0-4), B Coulter (1-1). Subs: G McArdle for Murphy (half-time), P Turley for Cole (44 mins), D McCartan for Murney (51 mins), J Lynch for Howard (55 mins), R Sexton (1-1) for Rodgers (56 mins).

OFFALY:P Kelly; G Rafferty, S Brady, P McConway; K Slattery, J Keane, N Grennan; C McManus (0-1, free), N Smith; N Darby, J Coughlan, J Kelly; P Kellaghan (2-1), J Reynolds (0-2), N McNamee (0-4, two frees). Subs: A McNamee for Darby (24 mins), B Darby for Rafferty (31 mins), G Comerford (0-2) for Coughlan (33 mins), D Egan for J Kelly (half-time), S Ryan for Reynolds (51 mins).

Referee:A Mangan (Kerry).