Offaly 3-12 Carlow 1-8:Offaly appeared to be in imminent danger of a second successive defeat at half-time in Tullamore yesterday, as they held a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead against Carlow despite having played with the aid of the wind.

Within two minutes of the resumption, however, Niall McNamee pointed a free and Jimmy Coughlan availed of a mistake by Carlow goalkeeper Kenneth Brennan to score a goal.

Midway through the second half Offaly wing back Karol Slattery applied the finish to a good movement by netting from close range. That goal was nullified within a minute when Ronan McGrath was taken down in the penalty area and Simon Rea made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Unfortunately, that was to be Carlow's final score, for Offaly became dominant during the remainder of the game. With six minutes remaining substitute Neville Coughlan added a third Offaly goal to put a flattering appearance on their winning margin.

OFFALY: P Kelly; E Byrne, J Quinn, N Grennan; P McConway (0-1), S Sullivan, K Slattery (1-1); C McManus, A McNamee; S Brady, P Kellaghan, S Ryan; J Coughlan (1-2), N McNamee (0-4, four frees), K Casey (0-3, one free). Subs: N Coughlan (1-1) for Kellaghan (27 mins), T Coughlan for Brady (half-time), T Deehan for Ryan (52 mins), J Keane for McConway (68 mins).

CARLOW: K Brennan; J Ryan, B Leonard, M Nolan; P Cashin, C Bolger, A Murphy; R McGrath, G Morrissey (0-1); B Kelly 0-1 (free); D Hayden (0-2), JJ Smith; S Rea (1-2, 1-0 pen. 0-1 free), P Hickey, M Carpenter (0-2). Subs: L Murphy for Leonard (33 mins), W Minchin for Rea and B Carberry for Hickey (both 61 mins), M Murphy for Kelly (70 mins).

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).