Target practice for fluid Offaly

The curtain came down on Meath's participation in the Leinster hurling championship almost before it was raised in this absurdly one-sided quarter-final at Croke Park yesterday. No one who had the commendable interest to turn up at this false start of a game seriously envisaged an upset. Even if they had, their sadly-misconceived notions were quickly put to one side as Offaly strolled to a 1-12 to 0-0 lead within 25 minutes. This was a summer afternoon alright!

The string of points began in the first minute with a pearl by full forward John Troy from way out on the right wing and continued uninterrupted until the 11th minute when Billy Dooley supplied an inelegant finish to a goalmouth scramble. Then, Michael Duignan triggered a second wave of points that included five from Troy and one each from Mark Hand and Joe Dooley.

By the 26th minute Meath had had enough and full forward Dan Dorran got them almost apologetically off the mark. How difficult a position they predictably found themselves in - faced by such superior forces.

As is the way with Meath teams, they toiled away admirably with full back Mark Gannon formidable under the high ball, Thomas Reilly forceful around the middle and centre forward Nickey Horan ending play with a more than respectable six points divided equally between play and placed balls.

Other than that they were chasing shadows as the clouds moved in overhead. Troy applied the cutting edge for the second goal just before the break. Brian Whelahan's long-range free dropped in over the heads of the defenders and Troy swivelled expertly and struck a half volley into the right corner.

The only point of real argument in the second half came in the 51st minute when another Brian Whelahan seemed to go straight to the Meath net. Opinion was evenly divided as to whether whether Troy had connected overhead on the edge of the square.

Whether Offaly have been injected with the necessary venom to administer an about-turn to their reversal of fortune in recent years is a matter for another afternoon's work. However, signs of a resurrection were bubbling on the beautifully-manicured playing surface.

The half-back line of Colm Cassidy, Brian Whelahan and Kevin Martin was immaculate from start to finish in both defence and attack. Their intelligent distribution prompted Troy to tweak the strings for an full-forward line that seemed particularly in tune.

Michael `Babs' Keating has never been one to flog a dead horse and he knows if he can generate the desire in the players at his disposal they can generate the results. This motivator's zig-zagging road to the `faithful county' might have been an unlikely one that did not suit all within the county but winning soon puts an end to whining.

Anyway, Keating has moved into the manager's driving seat and he will not suffer passengers. The Birr machine clicked into gear on St Patrick's Day and the three Whelahans and Johnny Pilkington were all on board yesterday.

As expected, the experienced players did the simple things well, without ever straining themselves. Full back Hubert Rigney did not allow one goalscoring opportunity to develop between himself and Stephen Byrne's goal. Johnny Pilkington made the odd intrusion that had supporters picking at memories of the past, and what is more, his three piercing runs of note were made in the last quarter.

Michael Duignan drifted in off the wing like a man playing out of position. Billy and Joe Dooley were mirror images of each other. They made an impact when possession required them to and fed off Troy's delightful play.

But, perhaps, it was the sum of the other parts that was more important yesterday. This is where Offaly must find a new level this season. While most of the newish faces were competent, admittedly under little pressure, there was no obvious bright light that jumped up and screamed out star quality.

Leitrim, who meet Galway in the Connacht senior foootball semifinal next month, registered an emphatic victory (1-17 to 1-10) over Laois in a tournament game at Annaduff, Co Leitrim, yesterday.