Unlucky Offaly let golden opportunity slip as Monaghan snatch late win

Monaghan 2-17

Offaly 2-15

Playing Monaghan in a hugely entertaining quarter-final at Ballinlough in Meath, Offaly could have had the game won at half time. Playing against the wind in the second half, they were set up to push for home on a couple of different occasions but each time, they allowed Monaghan back into the game too easily and too quickly.

They paid a dear price as they wilted inside the closing few minutes and Monaghan finished powerfully to snatch a very hard earned win. Offaly beat Armagh in a thrilling extra time shoot out the previous Saturday and extra time loomed large until Monaghan sub Mantas Palauskas fired over a hail Mary two pointer just in injury time to send the Ulster team into the semi-final.

Offaly were unlucky to lose and the game was certainly there to be won for them but in a paradoxical way, they can’t complain at returning home with their tail between their legs. They weren’t ruthless enough when they had their opponents on the ropes while they never came to terms with ace Monaghan forward, Luke Kelly who scored 1-8 from play and was the difference between the teams.

Despite the loss, Offaly end their season with their heads held high. They competed well, despite a heavy Leinster quarter-final beating by Meath when the scoreline was harsh on them, and they showed the right attitude for this second tier competition. They have a lot of very good footballers and supporters will be watching the progress of many of these with anticipation in the coming years.

Offaly led by 0-10 to 1-4 at half time and really should have been home and dry. The sides were level at 0-3 each after 11 minutes but Offaly were outstanding for the next ten minutes as they grabbed a 0-10 to 0-3 lead, Oliver Goulding and Evan Daly kicking two pointers. They should have had a goal on the board by this stage. Dara Waldron was very unlucky to hit the crossbar with a pile-driver in the fifth minute while there were a couple of times when players didn’t release team mates who were inside them with a possibility of a goal. Instead, Offaly fell asleep coming up to half time and Kelly scored a goal and a point in the 26th and 29th minutes to hand the winners a lifeline.

Jamie Harvey had a great third quarter when raiding from wing back and extended Offaly’s lead with the first of his two second half points inside the first minute of the restart but three in a row brought the gap down to one for Monaghan, 0-11 to 1-7. Offaly had a great golden spell from the 39th to 43rd minute with Evan Daly and impressive sub Sean Monahan kicking points and Paddy Burns racing in for an excellent goal after a great break forward by John Carroll.

Suddenly the lead was 1-14 to 1-8 and Offaly were set up but they coughed up their advantage immediately as Kelly and sub Caoilte Kelly kicked two pointers to make it a two point game just two minutes later.

Offaly were in pole position again in the 48th minute when Monahan got a top quality goal after Stephen Murrihy did very well to instigate the attack from defence. Again, they conceded way too quickly with Monaghan getting the next two points within a minute to make it 2-14 to 1-14. Offaly were now very fragile but Caoilte Kelly was wide with a two point free that was very scoreable with the wind on the back – he had a similar miss a few minutes later. Monaghan equalised with a 53rd minute goal from Phelim Brady, when the Offaly defence was split wide open by a long ball in.

Offaly rallied well and Dara Waldron had a great chance to get a third goal in the 54th minute but was penalised for over carrying. A goal probably would have broken Monaghan’s resistance but Sub Donnacha Seery edged Offaly in front a minute later and they tried desperately to hold on from here. Monaghan exerted fierce late pressure and Offaly were praying for the final whistle too early. The Ulster side were wide with two two point shots before Caoilte Kelly opted to point the equaliser with the goal on his mercy. A big problem for Offaly was that they just couldn’t lift the siege late on and that injury time two pointer won the day for Monaghan.

Monaghan: Luke Kelly 1-8 (1 x 2p), Phelim Brady 1-0, Caoilte Kelly 0-3 (1 x 2pf), Mantas Palauskas 0-2 (1 x 2p), Aodhan Lawless, Cillian McKenna, Adam Borsje, Alex McGinnitty 0-1 each.

Offaly: Paddy Burns 1-3 (1 x 2pf), Sean Monahan 1-1, Oliver Goulding (1 x 2p) and Evan Daly (1 x 2p) 0-3 each, Jamie Harvey 0-2, Patrick Duffy, Darragh Stewart and Donnacha Seery 0-1 each.

OFFALY: Ryan Casey (Tullamore); Cormac Staunton (Clodiagh Gaels), Oran Kenny (Ferbane), Stephen Murrihy (Tullamore); James Slevin (St Rynagh’s), Cathal Carroll (Erin Rovers), Jamie Harvey (Tullamore); John Carroll (Clara), Patrick Duffy (Tullamore); Evan Daly (Ballycumber), Darragh Stewart (Tullamore), Dara Waldron (Ferbane); Oliver Goulding (Edenderry), Paddy Burns (Daingean), Joe Furey (Edenderry). Subs – Sean Monahan (Edenderry) for Staunton (41m), Donnacha Seery (Edenderry) for Slevin (45m), Sean O’Shea (Shannonbridge) for Goulding (59m)