Offaly 2-10; Leitrim 0-4: Luckless Leitrim failed to make any impression on the fitter and sharper Offaly who fully deserved their 12-point margin of victory at Páirc Seán Mhic Díarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, yesterday.

The midland side eased into a five-point lead after 10 minutes before Michael Foley, Leitrim's only forward of note, opened the home side's account in the 14th minute.

Leading 0-7 to 0-3 at the break,Offaly maintained the pressure in the second period. A John Reynolds point in the 41st minute was followed two minutes later by a Ray Malone goal after a sweeping movement upfield involving several Offaly players.

Leitrim could only manage one score in the entire second half,once again from a Michael Foley free in the 10th minute.

It was a game dominated by the Offaly midfield duo of Ciarán McManus and Alan McNamee, with support from the Offaly forward line who all scored.

Alan Mulhall's extra-time goal only added to Leitrim's day of misery but the result keeps Offaly on track for promotion.

OFFALY: C McNamara; S Sullivan, C Evans, S Brady; B Mooney (0-2), C Daly, K Slattery(0-1); C McManus (0-2, one free), A McNamee; R Malone (1-0), P Kellaghan (0-1), C Farrell (0-1); J O'Neill (0-1, free), N McNamee (0-1), J Reynolds (0-1). Subs: J Hurst for S Sullivan, C Quinn for A McNamee, A Mulhall (1-0) for C Farrell, R Guinan for J O'Neill, B Maloney for K Slattery.

LEITRIM: G Phelan; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; M Greene, N Kilbane, B Prior; C Carroll, P Farrell (0-1); B Brennan, D Lynch, N Doonan; J McGuinness, S Quinn, M Foley (0-3, two frees). Subs: C Regan for B Brennan, J Guckian for P Farrell, P McGarry for N Doonan.

Referee: M Brady (Cavan).