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Late Rally Gives Offaly Great Victory Over Kilkenny

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Ger Healion about to force the ball over the line for Offaly’s goal despite the attentions of David Herrity and Canice Hickey in Sunday’s game in Tullamore. MT05960

By John O'Callaghan
Offaly ................................1-16
Kilkenny ...........................1-13
Five points without reply in the last eight minutes earned Offaly a long overdue victory over Kilkenny in an exciting Walsh cup quarter final played at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday last.
Neither side might have been at full strength but psychologically it was a big boost for Offaly and gives them a good lift at the start of the year. The manner of the victory was also pleasing as they hd to come from behind to do it. They only hit the front for the first time with four minutes left but they finished very strongly adding two further points to seal a fine victory.
Offaly now advance to the semi-finals of the Walsh Cup and will have another good test next weekend when they face Galway in the semi-finals after the Tribesmen beat Laois in their quarter final on Sunday after extra time.
The early stages of this game gave little indication that Offaly were going to pull off a famous win. After an early exchange of points, Kilkenny dominated the scoring exchanges as Offaly missed chances and by the end of the first quarter Kilkenny were ahead by 0-6 to 0-1. Offaly did find the target again but three points in two minutes stretched Kilkenny's advantage to six points just over five minutes before the break.
However Offaly made a good finish to the half, culminating in a scrambled goal from Ger Healion on the stroke of half time which left them just one point down at half time, 0-10 to 1-6.
Offaly were level two minutes into the second half but less than a minute later Kilkenny struck for a goal and one wondered would that signal the end for Offaly. Far from it, as they hit back quickly with two points. They were level again after 11 minutes but Kilkenny edged two in front again as the game entered the final quarter. Nine minutes passed without a score before Offaly hit a final flourish with five points in succession to leave them victors by three points at the final whistle.
Following on from their hard earned victory over DIT the previous Sunday, this was another morale booster for Offaly. They made five changes for this game with James Dempsey taking over in goals, James Keane getting his chance at midfield and James Rigney, Rory Hanniffy and Daniel Currams returning to the starting line up. A lot of the Offaly regulars were in action for their Third Level Colleges over the weekend as well and some more of them will be available for selection next weekend.
Kilkenny were also well below strength with only a few regulars, such as John Tennyson, Richie Hogan and John Dalton, with a number of panel regulars and a good sprlnkling of the side which won the Under 21 All-ireland in 2008. Kilkenny were the holders of the Walsh Cup (and have won four of the last five titles) and usually go all out to win these competitions, so it is no mean achievement for Offaly to have ended their reign.
In some ways Offaly could have won this game by an even bigger margin. They had a lot of play in the early stages but failed to convert their possession into scores. Shots dropped short into the goalkeeper, there were a few bad wides and Daniel Currams failed to convert his first two frees, although he recovered after that to find the range more regularly. In all Offaly finished with 12 wides as compared to eight for Kilkenny.
Considering they were five points down after the first quarter, Offaly did well to outscore Kilkenny by 1-15 to 1-7 for the remaining three quarters of the game and it was a good achievement to keep Kilkenny to just 1-3 in the second half. The fact that Kilkenny only had one wide in the second half and failed to score for the final 17 minutes gives further indication of how Offaly became more dominant as the game went on.
Offaly made some good changes which also worked to their benefit. Before half time Rory Hanniffy switched to midfield with Ger Oakley moving to the half forward line and both were more prominent in their new positions. Kevin Brady was introduced as a sub for the final quarter and made a big impression, scoring the point which put Offaly into the lead for the first time and contributing well in general play.
Overall there were plenty of positives for Offaly. The full back line did well again with Stephen Egan showing up well and Eanna Murphy doing a good job containing Richie Hogan. Derek Morkan played well on the half back line with Joe Bergin finishing the game very strongly.
At midfield Rory Hanniffy did well when switched there and Kevin Brady played well when introduced, while in attack Cathal Parlon did a lot of good work, Daniel Currams had some good moments and Ger Oakley worked hard when moved forward.
For Kilkenny Canice Brennan did well at full back, with Kieran Joyce and P.J. Delaney also doing well in defence. Lester Ryan put in a lot of good work around the middle of the field while in attack Richie Hogan frequently roamed outfield in search of possession and always carried a threat, while John Mulhall and Michael Grace also put in a good effort and took their scores well.
Kilkenny were ahead after just 38 seconds when Martin Boran pointed but Offaly levelled after two minutes when Ger Healion's pass found Shane Kelly and he pointed. Offaly missed two chances of taking the lead before John Mulhall pointed for Kilkenny and that was quickly followed by a point from Richie Hogan. Offaly had further chances with an effort from Daniel Currams coming back off the post Ger Healion's effort from the rebound went wide.
Kilkenny took advantage of these missed and a nice move ended with Mark Bergin pointing. Richie Hogan pointed a free after he had been fouled himself and when John Mulhall hit another point at the midway point of the half, Kilkenny were 0-6 to 0-1 in front.
Having gone 17 minutes without a score, Offaly found the target again when Derek Morkan made a good catch and sent a good crossfield ball to Cathal Parlon, who sent the ball over. Daniel Currams reduced the gap to three points when he pointed a free 10 minutes before the break.
Kilkenny then hit a good patch with three points in under two minutes. Michael Grace sent over a fine effort from out the field, before P.J. Delaney pointed a free from his own 65m line. Richie Hogan then added another and Kilkenny were six points up heading towards half time.
Offaly responded well and Rory Hanniffy ran through to score a good point, which was followed by another from Shane Kelly after a good run by Cathal Parlon. Richie Hogan made a dangerous run towards the Offaly goal but his final pass was well intercepted by Stephen Egan. Michael Grace did extend the Kilkenny lead to five again but Daniel Currams replied with an Offaly free.
Then with the game ticking over the 35 minutes. Daniel Currams sent a high ball into the Kilkenny goalmouth. Ger Healion got in under it and when the ball broke loose, he managed to force it over the line for a goal and Offaly went in trailing by just one point, 0-10 to 1-6.
Two minutes after the restart Offaly were level when Daniel Currams pointed a free after he had been fouled. Less than a minute later disaster struck when Lester Ryan sent a long ball towards the Offaly goals, Martin Boran had run free and he pulled first time on the ball to send it to the Offaly net.
Daniel Currams pointed a free and Cathal Parlon hit another point after making a good catch, to reduce the gap to the minimum again but the chance of an equaliser was missed from a long range free. Eoin McGrath edged Kilkenny two clear with a good point from the right, but Ger Oakley hit an inspirational score from out the field and Rory Hanniffy then sent over the equaliser after taking a pass from Joe Brady.
Kilkenny had a chance to regain the lead after 13 minute when awarded a 20m free. Richie Hogan elected to go for goal but his effort was saved by James Dempsey. Offaly moved the ball upfield from that and Daniel Currams' first time pull beat the goalkeeper but was just outside the post.
Kilkenny did go back in front when Richie Hogan pointed a free and when Offaly lost possession John Mulhall sent over another point with 17 minutes remaining. That proved to be Kilkenny's last score of the game.
The next nine minutes failed to provide a score. Offaly had a goal chance when Ger Healion and Cathal Parlon were involved in the build up and the ball broke to Shane Kelly but David Herrity made a good save. With eight minutes left Joe Bergin pointed a '65' and three minutes later he made a great catch from the puck out, raced forward and fired over the bar to bring the sides level for the fourth time.
Less than a minute later Offaly were in front for the first time when Kevin Brady won the ball inside his own half and sent a huge effort over the bar. Offaly had their tails up now and Cathal Parlon sent over another point from the left wing. John Mulhall was somewhat harshly punished for overcarrying when he appeared to be fouled himself, but Joe Bergin made no mistake from the free to put Offaly three clear. They had a further chance to add to that but Daniel Currams was wide from a free, but Offaly had done enough and advanced to the semi-finals to meet Galway.

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