Gaelic Games

Offaly keep survival hopes alive with win in Down

The visitors rallied to victory with the last four scores of the basement clash

Cornerback Lee Pearson punched over the winner for Offaly against Down on Saturday. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Cornerback Lee Pearson punched over the winner for Offaly against Down on Saturday. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Sat Mar 12 2022 - 19:10

Down 0-14 Offaly 0-15

Offaly have given themselves a shot at survival in Division two after a gutsy comeback win over Down at Páirc Esler.

Cornerback Lee Pearson punched over the winner after Offaly rallied to victory with the last four scores of the basement clash.

A wasteful opening made the first half a fraught affair with both sides failing to pull away from each other with any sort of conviction. Understandable, given the circumstances.

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After edging the lead in the earlier part of the half through Niall McNamee and his cousin Ruairi, Offaly were dragged back into the mire as Barry O’Hagan began to shine amidst the torrential rain in Newry with four first half points.

O’Hagan was one of a number of changes that worked for Down manager James McCartan on the night, along with the returning Niall Kane and Ryan McEvoy from Kilcoo.

Another All-Ireland winner, Keith O’Neill, from Offaly’s successful Under-20 team last season tied the scores to make it 0-8 a piece at half time.

The second half was a point for point affair until Liam Kerr’s decisive brace looked to have swung it in the hosts favour. However, with a chance to seal it, substitute Cory Quinn hit the crossbar which allowed Offaly to begin their great escape.

DOWN: N Kane (0-1'45); A Lynch, F McElroy, D Guinness (0-1); D O'Hagan, P Fegan, C Poland (0-1); A Doherty, N McParland; R McEvoy, L Kerr (0-2), C Mooney (0-1); P Havern (0-1), B O'Hagan (0-4), A Gilmore (0-2 frees).

Subs: C Doherty (0-1) for Lynch (h-t), G Collins for Guinness (43 mins), C Quinn for Gilmore (63 mins), O Murdock for McEvoy (63 mins), K McKernan for Havern (69 mins).

OFFALY: P Dunican (0-1 free); L Pearson (0-1), N Darby (0-1), J Lalor; R Egan, D Hogan, C Donnelly; B Carroll, J Hayes (0-1); D Hyland (0-1), R McNamee (0-1), M Abbott (0-1); K O'Neill (0-1), N McNamee (0-3, 0-1 free), B Allen (0-3).

Subs: C Mangan for Carrol (h-t), A Sullivan (0-1) for O’Neill (42 mins), C Flynn for N McNamee (63 mins), C Donoghue for Hyland (66 mins), J McEvoy for R McNamee (74 mins).

Referee: B Judge (Sligo).