Allianz Football League Division 3: Offaly 2-19, Laois 1-17
Offaly senior footballers made it two wins from two in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League with a convincing 2-19 to 0-17 victory voer Laoise in Portlaoise.
Following an equally impressive defeat of Sligo last weekend, this result leaves the Faithful County in a promising position ahead of the visit of Antrim to Glenisk O’Connor Park on 16 February.
Offaly led from start to finish, building up a five-point lead within five minutes as Keith O’Neill kicked a quick brace of points before Jordan Hayes rattled the net from close range.
Shane Tierney increased the lead with a fisted point, before Laois opened their account.
The Offaly dominance continued with a score each for Jack Bryant and Dylan Hyland. Although Laois replied with their second score, Offaly hit anothe purple patch with Diarmuid Egan, substitute Robbie Gallagher, Keith O’Neill, Shane Tierney and Jack Bryant. The visitors were ahead by 1-10 to 0-2 before getting back into the game with a Damon Larkin goal.
The gap was down to five points before Offaly goalkeeper Paddy Dunican surged forward and blasted to the Laois net. At half time, Offaly enjoyed a 2-10 to 1-6 cushion.
Offaly began the second half with 14 men after a black card for Robbie Gallagher late in the first but despite that they got the first score on the board through Jack Bryant.
Laois came more into the game, but still struggled to reduce the gap.
Kevin Swayne had a chance at goal denied, though Mark Barry picked up the pieces to take a point for Laois, though Offaly’s potency in attack shone through again with scores from Tierney and the pacy Cormac Egan.
Keith O’Neill fired over his third of the game in the 55th minute as the visitors still held a comprehensive lead and Hayes put nine between them as he added to his first half goal with a point.
The scoring continued for Offaly as Hyland beautifully struck one over with his left boot into the darkening sky over Portlaoise town.
Scores continued to come for the visitors with Hyland, Hayes and Cathal Flynns striking to put the game beyond reasonable doubt.
Scorers
Offaly: Keith O’Neill 0-04 (one free), Dylan Hyland 0-4 (one free), Jordan Hayes 1-01, Shane Tierney 0-03, Paddy Dunican 1-00, Jack Bryant 0-02, Robbie Gallagher, Diarmuid Egan, Cormac Egan, Cathal Flynn and Cillian Bourke 0-01 each
Laois: Mark Barry (three frees, one two-point free, one two-point from play) 0-09, Ronan Coffey 0-04, Damon Larkin 1-00, Padraig Kirwan 0-02, Killian Roche and Kevin Swayne (mark) 0-01 each
Offaly: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, Rory Egan; Diarmuid Egan, Cillian Bourke, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Ruairi McNamee, Cathal Flynn, Keith O’Neill; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney. Subs: Robbie Gallagher for McNamee (injured – 14), Kyle Higgins for Gallagher (53), Eoin Sawyer for O’Neill (62), Marcas Dalton for D Egan (70)
Laois: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, James Kelly; Simon Fingleton, Brian Byrne, Seamus Lacey; Kevin Swayne, Damon Larkin; Conor Heffernan, Mark Barry, Danny O’Reilly; Ronan Coffey, Benny Carroll, Cathal Lee. Subs: Padraig Kirwan for Lacey (27), Niall Corbet for Lee (HT), Josh Hogan for O’Reilly (50), Paddy O’Sullivan for Byrne (53), Jake Darcy for Dempsey (62)
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
By Offaly PRO Sun 2nd Feb
