Offaly 1-07 Dublin 0-10:A draw was a fair result in Tullamore on Saturday, as either side could have won. The point for both teams came with the bonus that none of the players died of exposure on an afternoon that will surely brook few challengers as the coldest of the year.
As Dublin manager Tommy Lyons indicated afterwards, the fact that it was an away fixture made the loss of a point more bearable for him than his Offaly counterpart (and successor) Padraig Nolan.
Lyons qualified his reactions by referring to the "lottery conditions". The match was comprehensively distorted by the searingly cold wind that gusted and swirled all afternoon. As an advantage it was deceptive. Although both teams benefited from it to the extent of four points, the wind was hard to control and led to more wides than scores in each half.
There were some positive elements for the counties. Nolan pointed out that with all the talk about Dublin's young team, his own selection of three 19-year olds in central positions had been overlooked. It was a fair point but Offaly's most obvious menace came down the left. Karol Slattery was fast and composed at left wing back, doing particularly well on the break, although Ciaran Whelan picked up a lot of possession at the other end. Basil Malone at wing forward was prominent in the first half, playing in a deep defensive position, getting on to a good share of ball and kicking a couple points for good measure.
In the left corner, Pascal Kelleghan was the most dangerous finisher on the field. His four points came from play with the exception of a beautiful sideline kick in the 63rd minute which concluded the scoring.
Offaly had apparently done the hard work by half-time, keeping the deficit to four points, 0-2 to 0-6. Whereas they had worked hard, their opponents had helped with seven wides. Ten minutes into the second half, the gap was eliminated by a point from Kelleghan and a goal from Donie Claffey.
Lyons was philosophical about the concession and commended his full backs despite their difficulties under dropping ball, which he ascribed to the wind. Nonetheless it was that wind, which carried John Hurst's clearance about 80 yards into the danger zone, where it broke (was fumbled) into the Claffey's path. The finish was high-class and the match was level. Most would have expected the home side to take over but what followed was an edgy game in which neither team could gain control.
"We played well in the first half," said Nolan, "but gave too much ball away in the second half. We didn't get enough ball into the forwards. Dublin got the breaks but we looked dangerous which was encouraging given we didn't have Vinny (Claffey)."
Dublin's forwards had looked likely match-winners in the first half, but struggled after the interval. Alan Brogan maintained his impressive returns with three points from play and once again he and his full-forward colleagues provided the bulk of the scoring, all but a point of the total. He could have had the winner in injury-time but an attempt at a fisted point fell short - and invalidly - into the net.
That Offaly failed to win as large a chunk of possession with the wind as their opponents was due to a good display by Dublin's new centrefield of Ken Darcy and Darren Magee. Darcy scored what Lyons reckoned was the point of the match from about 30 metres into the howling wind. "It's the first time in a long time we've won more possession in midfield than the opposition," was Lyons's verdict.
Both managers praised the work of Dublin centre back Jonny Magee, who provided a formidable barrier at the heart of the defence and at times, a well judged attacking platform. It was the Kilmacud player's first start of the season. "Jonny Magee has lost a stone and five and that's why we gave him the jersey," said his manager. "He's another stone to go but no one's ever doubted his ability."
DUBLIN: B Murphy; D Henry, P Andrews, C Goggins; P Casey, J Magee, P Curran; K Darcy (0-1), D Magee; C Whelan, D Darcy, E Bennis; A Brogan (0-3), J McNally (0-3, two frees), R Cosgrove (0-3, all frees). Subs: S Connell for Bennis (31 mins), M Casey for P Casey (69 mins), J Gavin for Cosgrove (73 mins).
OFFALY: P Kelly; C Daly, G Rafferty, B Mooney; J Hurst, A McNamee, K Slattery; J Grennan, A Mahon; J Kenny, S Grennan (0-1), B Malone (0-2, one free); D Claffey (1-0), N Coughlan, P Kelleghan (0-4, one sideline). Subs: J Greene for Kenny (62 mins), F McEvoy for Claffey (64 mins), S Bagnall for Hurst (69 mins).
Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).
