Offaly off the mark while Wexford suffer

CIAN DONOGHUE’s 29th minute goal proved crucial as Offaly eased to a three-point victory over Wexford in this Alianz Division 3 National Football League clash in Enniscorthy.

Donoghue’s fine left-footed finish was the boost that Offaly needed, earning them their first points of the campaign, while Wexford remain at the bottom of the table facing relegation with games against Derry and Armagh to come.

Points from Eoghan Nolan and Ben Brosnan inside the opening five minutes gave Wexford the ideal start, but with Nigel Dunne kicking three excellent points, it was Offaly who struck the major blow when David Dempsey’s good approach play allowed O’Donoghue give his side to a 1-5 to 0-3 interval lead. Wexford’s cause wasn’t helped when wing-forward Ben Brosnan was shown a straight red card following an off the ball incident and their lack of firepower was quite evident. They only managed points from Glen Malone and Nick Doyle, while Nigel Dunne responded with a splendid point to give the Midlanders a 1-6 to 0-5 lead.

The introduction of Barry O’Connor

brought some life to the home attack as he kicked an excellent point, and when a John Tubritt effort reduced the deficit to 1-7 to 0-8 on 49 minutes, it looked as if the homeside were about to take control.

But with Dunne kicking over two points, one a free, Offaly maintained their grip, and even a Nick Doyle goal three minutes from the end could not rock them as the eventual winners responded with points from Dunne and sub Shane Tierney, with Tubritt having a late pointed free for the homeside. But it was to no avail.

wexforD: C Swaine; C Carty, J Rossiter, M Furlong; G Malone, N Rossiter, T Rossiter; N Doyle, B Malone; R Frayne, J Stafford, B Brosnan; C McCabe, E Nolan, J Tubritt. Subs: M O’Neill for T Rossiter (42); B O’Connor for Stafford (42); C Devereux for McCabe (52); B O’Gorman for Frayne (55). SCorerS: N Doyle (1-1), Tubritt (0-3), E Nolan (0-2), G Malone, B Brosnan, N Rossiter and B O’Connor (0-1 each)

offaly: P Dunican; D Hogan, P McConway, S Pender; D Dempsey, J Lalor, N Darby (0-1); P Cunningham (0-1), M Brazil (0-1); C McNamee, A Sullivan (0-1), C Donohue; B Allen, C Carroll, N Dunne.

Subs: S Tierney (0-1) for Allen Black card 37); J Hayes for Brazil (49); C Dunne for McNamee (57); S Doyle for Pender (62); S Nally for Donohue (66). Scorers: N Dunne (0- 8), C Donohue (10) N Darby ( ; P Cunningham, M Brazil; A Sullivan (0-1 each)

referee: J Hickey (Carlow).