Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Final
OFFALY 2-25 (2-4-17)
NEW YORK 1-12 (1-1-5)
Kevin Egan at Glenisk O’Connor Park
New York finished with a flourish this afternoon in Tullamore but their late run of scores at Glenisk O’Connor Park wasn’t enough to cause any real problems for Offaly, who secured their place in the last eight of the Tailteann Cup with plenty to spare.
After struggling with injury and only playing minor roles in their last two games, Dylan Hyland came back into the starting team for the Faithful County and he was imperious, scoring 1-12 in total, including a somewhat fortunate goal just before half-time.
That made life very comfortable for the hosts after half-time, and even as New York scored 1-6 unanswered at one stage, they always had at least a dozen points to spare.
This time 12 months ago New York also made a trip to the midlands and caused their hosts plenty of problems, on that occasion taking a one-point lead against 14-man Laois midway through the second half.
It looked like a similarly nervous afternoon might be in store for the hosts today, as New York settled into this contest quite well, despite playing into a significant breeze. Kieran Murphy, Gavin O’Brien and Eoghan McElligott all made their presence felt in the kickout battle to tilt the balance of possession their way, and two early points for Murphy and Frank O’Reilly left them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes.
Offaly put four wides on the board before they finally registered a second score, a two-pointer from Dylan Hyland, and inaccuracy continued to haunt them throughout the half. 11 first half wides were accompanied by three shots dropped short and one glorious missed goal chance that Keith O’Neill pushed wide after John Furlong kept a high ball in play and flicked it into O’Neill’s path, but that seemed to matter less and less as the play continued, almost entirely taking place in the New York half.
With clean catching incredibly rare, Offaly started to manage the breaks better, in no small part because of another eye-catching performance from Leaving Cert student Cillian Bourke. The Tullamore player chipped in with two first half points, and with Hyland leading the line well, Offaly continued to work the scoreboard and push the lead into double figures.
Given the strength of the breeze, even at 0-14 to 0-2 coming up to half-time, New York wouldn’t have been entirely without hope. Then Hyland cut in from the left corner and attempted to fist a point, only for the ball to bounce off the far post and fall perfectly for him to gather up the rebound and score as simple a goal as he’ll ever get.
With the life and hope extinguished from New York, Offaly continued their momentum after the break, Ruairí McNamee adding to the attack with 1-2, but New York finally showed their talent in the closing stages.
Jack Robinson, who grew up on the Offaly border club of Clogherinkoe, fired two excellent points and should have had a goal to go with it, while Bobby O’Regan’s incredible strike will no doubt go viral during the week, as it’s unlikely that there will be as good a score registered anywhere.
No-one was taking the limelight from Hyland however, as he struck two neat points from play and then stroked a free over the bar with the last kick to ensure Offaly will still carry plenty of momentum into either their trip to either Newbridge, Enniskillen or a Limerick venue next weekend.
Scorers for Offaly: Dylan Hyland 1-12 (1tp, 2tpf), Ruairí McNamee 1-2, Jordan Hayes 0-4 (1tp), Cillian Bourke 0-2, Keith O’Neill 0-2, Kyle Higgins 0-1, Cormac Egan 0-1, Shane Tierney 0-1.
Scorers for New York: Bobby O’Regan 1-3 (0-2f), Frank O’Reilly 0-3 (1tpf, 0-1f), Jack Robinson 0-2, Kieran Murphy 0-1, Joe Hagan 0-1, Michael Argue 0-1, Killian Butler 0-1.
OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, Daire McDaid; Aidan Bracken, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn, Cillian Bourke; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Keith O’Neill.
SUBS: Shane Tierney for Bryant (half-time), Ruairí McNamee for Bourke (47), Rory Egan for C Egan (51), Robbie Gallagher for O’Neill (53), Aaron Leavy for Higgins (53).
NEW YORK: Joey Grace; Cian O’Dea, Seán Wilson, Shane Bolger; Bill Maher, Jack McKenna, Rob Wharton; Kieran Murphy, Eoghan McElligott; Shane Brosnan, Gavin O’Brien, Morgan Garry; Frank O’Reilly, Bobby O’Regan, Jack Robinson.
SUBS: Tadhg O’Riordan for Wilson (24), Tiarnan Mathers for Garry (half-time), Michael Argue for McKenna (41), Joe Hagan for Maher (51), Killian Butler for O’Brien (55).
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).
By Offaly PRO Sat 7th Jun
