Kellaghan on song as Offaly sink Lake rivals

AARON KELLAGHAN was in fine form as Offaly secured their second win of the campaign with a deserved victory at O’Connor Park.

Offaly raced into a 1-1 to 0-1 lead after seven minutes with Kellaghan firing in the goal just a minute after he landed a free.

From the 13th minute to the 22nd minute Westmeath tagged on 1-5 with reply to go 1-7 to 1-2 up with their goal coming on 16 minutes from the impressive Jamie Coffey.

Offaly came back into it before half-time with frees from Sean Courtney and Kellaghan but it was the Westmeath men who led at the break, 1-7 to 1-5.

Offaly meant business at the start of the second half and soon had three more points on the board, a beauty from Jack Bryant and a brace from Courtney, to put them in front – 1-10 to 1-7 – with 20 minutes to go.

Offaly were able to keep their noses in front thanks to scores from Daniel Lowry and Kellaghan while Sean O’Toole came to the rescue with a point-blank save in the goals.

Kellaghan’s final point in the 56th minute proved to be the last score of the game as Westmeath only managed two points, both frees, in the second half.

SCORERS – Offaly: A Kellaghan 1-3 (0-2f); S Courtney 0-3 (f); C Donoghue, M Tynan, L Egan, M Cunningham, J Bryant and D Lowry 0-1 each. Westmeath: J McDonnell 0-5 (4f); J Coffey 1-1; K O’Sullivan 0-2; J Torpey 0-1.

OFFALY – S O’Toole; A Brazil, K Dolan, B Nolan; E Cullen, R Egan, H Balsiger; C Donoghue, M Tynan; L Egan, S Courtney, M Cunningham; J Bryant, D Lowry, A Kellaghan. Subs: P Bennett for L Egan (42), L Pearson for B Nolan (BC, 52), C Delaney for E Cullen (54), D Flynn for J Bryant (58).

WESTMEATH: S Fagan; C Drumm, C Daly, S Murtagh; J McDonnell, C Gibney, D Seery; A Cronin, J Coffey; E Gaffney, J Torpey, S Fleming; L Moran, K O’Sullivan, T Keena. Subs: E Martin for S Murtagh (BC, 27), O Raleigh for T Keena (h-t), A Donoghue for L Moran (38), J Murtagh for J Coffey (51), E McCabe for J Torpey (58).

REF – P McGuire (Longford)