WITH the day that was in it what else but a penalty could best stir things up in Nowlan Park? And so just when Kildare threatened to win out unhurriedly, without one nervous look at the clock, time suddenly took on new meaning.
But there was only one way Offaly could finish the game and that was on a roll. After crawling along for the most part of an hour, at last they found a crack in Kildare and chased down a four-point deficit in the last five minutes. They could have won it too but time - literally - ran out.
Only half of the allotted four minutes of added time were played, and with that the sides return to Kilkenny next Saturday evening (6.15). Still, Offaly had no complaints. So near and yet so far wouldn't ring true, because for so long they were far and never near.
Yet in those closing moments Offaly started to smell a victory. And they very nearly licked it. Down by four points as the clock entered the last five minutes, they turned Ciarán McManus into the game-breaker. First by converting the penalty, then a 45, and then setting up a great equaliser for the great Vinnie Claffey.
The most untypical of errors from Ken Doyle helped give Offaly the chance they so craved. As the ball ran away from him and into the path of Colm Quinn, the goal was always on. As it happened Neville Coughlan was fouled and McManus thundered the ball into the net from the spot.
With the minimum between them - 1-8 to 1-7 - it was either side's game, with four minutes of left to play. Kildare came up with a short breather when substitute Padraig Hurley sliced the posts without much warning. Two points up and two minutes of normal time left to play.
But Offaly's spirit was now on fire. Though Alan McNamee and Quinn both shot into the hands of the Kildare goalkeeper, they never once looked like the losing team that had languished for so long. Just as the fourth official raised the board to announce the four minutes of added time, McManus slotted over the coolest of 45s to bring Offaly back to the minimum.
At the other end there was time too for the other Kildare substitute to almost win it. But Derek McCormack's inexperience probably came against him and he squandered his chance low and wide.
So to the other end again. McManus was in possession once more and charging on goal, cutely spotting Claffey in the corner. With the briefest of touches he fisted the ball over the bar and all was square again. With two more minutes of added time to play.
Just where those two minutes went, however, is something only referee Seamus Prior knows. The rules do state that the discretion is his, but it still seemed a little premature when he blew up as soon as Enda Murphy took his kick out. Not that anyone would have predicted the winner after that.
But if there was any momentum to the game at that stage then it belonged to Offaly. They had brought themselves back into a game that they once looked incapable of even contesting.
Take the first half, where Offaly managed a single point. Kildare were killing them softly in every area, and none more so than at midfield where Dermot Earley and Killian Brennan lorded every ball. Martin Lynch was on form, hitting three from play, and Ronan Sweeney was at his sharpest despite being a late call-up for the injured Karl O'Dwyer.
So after 20 minutes Kildare were 0-5 to 0-1 to the good, and Offaly were going backwards. Tadhg Fennin then poached them a goal after Pauric Kelly failed to hold a high ball, and from there to the break it was as good as one-way traffic.
Clearly the wind (with strong rain for company) had been underestimated. On the turnaround Offaly were quickly lifted, and with frees from Quinn and McManus, plus a superb point from Pascal Kellaghan, the first sign of the comeback appeared.
With Finbar Cullen now operating at centre back and Seán Grennan rightly sidelined, Offaly suddenly looked the more balanced team. Earley's free reign had been closed down, and Anthony Rainbow's total dominance of the first half was now equally fragile.
Although Eddie McCormack produced a moment of class, and John Doyle stayed solid with the free-taking, Kildare's potential appeared to run dry. The successful ball into Lynch and company had seized up, and so too did any real threat to the entire Offaly defence.
What a contrast it was for Offaly. Claffey was now everywhere and when James Grennan produced another long-range score shortly after the hour the whole team appeared to get a lift.
Kildare still looked to be safe enough with the four-point lead, but who needs reminding that penalties can change the course of a whole game? Once McManus buried his ball the contest took on a whole new meaning, and it should stay that way too when the sides meet again in six days time.
HOW THEY LINED OUT
KILDARE: 1. E Murphy; 2. B Lacey, 3. P Mullarkey, 4. K Doyle; 5. T Harris, 6. D Hendy, 7. A Rainbow; 8. K Brennan, 9. D Earley; 10. E McCormack, 12. J Doyle, 17. R Sweeney; 13. T Fennin, 14. M Lynch, S McKenzie-Smith.
Subs: P Hurley for McKenzie-Smith (48 mins), D McCormack for E McCormack (59 mins).
Booked: K Brennan (35 mins).
OFFALY: 1. P Kelly, 2. C Daly, 3. J kenny, 4. B Mooney; 5. J Hurst, 6. G Rafferty, 7. K Slattery; 8. S Grennan, 9. C McManus; 10. C Quinn, 11. F Cullen, 12. A McNamee; 13. P Mulhare, 14. R Malone, 15. P Kellaghan.
Subs: V Claffey for Hurst (half-time), J Grennan for S Grennan (52 mins), N Coughlan for Mulhare (57 mins).
Booked: S Grennan (35 mins), C Daly (56), C Quinn (60).
