Louth’s brave comeback is not enough
THIS re-fixed, pivotal round three clash between Louth and Offaly was still largely decided by the bleak weather conditions as Storm Dennis picked up where Ciara left off.
But once again it was Louth who buckled under the weight of the ‘game of two halves’, failing to manage the elements adequately enough.
This time they couldn’t narrow the gap with the wind in their sails as the game came to a close.
The gap the home side had to chase, it could be argued, wasn’t managed adequately either.
Offaly built up a ten point lead in the first half as two unforced errors, while in attacking positions, led directly to Offaly goals.
That will hurt, but the fact that the visitors were able to extend their lead to twelve upon the restart will sting even more.
Despite a brave second half rally - one that got Louth supporters going for the first time this season - Louth left themselves with too much to do.
However, it should be also stated that Offaly goalkeeper Paddy Dunican’s two top drawer saves in either half, went a long way to earning Offaly the valuable two league points on offer.
The conditions were terrible to begin with, the wind at its worst combined with a downpour of rain, and Offaly pounced on their hosts misfortune as they raced into a 3-0 lead. Conor McNamee, Eoin Carroll and Bernard Allen seized on Louth’s inability to get up the field, such was the ferocity of the elements.
Seven minutes in, and Anton Sullivan was at the back post to palm in Offaly’s first goal on the back of a John Clutterbuck turnover. As the pitch opened up Bernard Allen still had a lot to do to find Sullivan on the rapid counter. At that stage it looked like Louth should have damage limitation on their minds.
With Shane Horan, a classy operator, stitching things together for Offaly, they added another goal shortly after. Ruairi McNamee at the end of another counter attack when Bevan Duffy’s cross field pass didn’t find the target.
Corner back Colm Doyle raced through to set up McNamee to push the game beyond Louth even with just eleven minutes on the clock.
After Clutterbuck forced Dunican into an excellent save. Liam Jackson finally got Louth off the mark in the 18th minute, but
Carroll matched his O’Byrne cup tally between the same two sides, with three points in the first half alone, as they made the most of an impressive first half showing to make it 2-7 to 0-3. Duffy and Conor Grimes added to Jackson’s opener for Louth.
Offaly again started the brighter with two quick points that Louth needed to get. However, the hosts would soon play with abandon when Conor Early pointed after he forced Dunican into another fine stop.
The Offaly net minder would soon be picking the ball out of the net when Sam Mulroy fired a stinging shot to the roof of the net having worked an excellent one-two with Paul Mathews amidst a mass of Offaly bodies.
Horan provided respite but Declan Byrne came on and landed three points in a row. The scores were not easy, all long range and guided expertly by the wind. Byrne got the crowd going and provided his side with some belief the impossible task could be accomplished.
Bernard Allen provided an interlude for the Faithful but Louth, with the bit between their teeth, went for broke.
Mulroy and Callaghan chipped away further with a point apiece before Byrne whipped the crowd into a frenzy with a wonderful point on the turn.
Sensing the game turning in their favour, Louth pressed and harried their opponents into mistakes and Emmet Carolan boomed a long ball into the direction of the on-form Byrne. The replacement had a lot to do and the chance looked to have disappeared, before he somehow played the ball low across the goal for Conor Grimes to collect and poke home to dramatically make it a one point game.
Unfortunately, exhausted by their efforts, Louth could not force the issue any farther, despite five minutes of normal and another five minutes injury time.
Mulroy saw a straight red and Tommy Durnin picked up his second booking to see Louth finish with thirteen men.
McNamee would then become a beacon for Offaly, who despite looking momentarily lost, found a way to safety thanks to two points from the deadly corner man.
LOUTH: Craig Lynch; Dan Corcoran,Niall Sharkey, Dermot Campbell; Eoghan Callaghan 0-1, Emmet Carolan, John Clutterbuck; James Califf, Tommy Durnin; Liam Jackson 0-1, Bevan Duffy 0-1, Paul Mathews; Ciaran Downey, Conor Grimes 1-1, Sam Mulroy 1-1(1f). Subs: Conall McKeever for Duffy (24), Conor Early 0-1 for Califf (36), Declan Byrne 0-4 for Sharkey (43), Eoghan Duffy for Jackson (56).
OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Colm Doyle, Eoin Rigney, Declan Hogan; Eoin Carroll 0-3, David Dempsey, Niall Darby 0-1; Conor McNamee, Michael Brazil; Cathal Mangan, Ciaran Donnelly, Shane Horan 0-1; Anton Sullivan 1-0, Bernard Allen 0-3, Ruairi McNamee 1-4 (1f). Subs: Cian Donohoe for Donnelly (ht), Jordan Hayes for C McNamee (60), Aaron Leavy for Sullivan (69), Cian Johnson for Allen (70+4).
REFEREE: Paul Faloon (Down).