Div 2A / Offaly 2-9 Carlow 1-11: Carlow, dominant for most of this game, will wonder how they let the points slip at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday. Offaly led only once but were in front when it mattered - at the final whistle.

Six minutes from time the midlanders were awarded a penalty when one of their forwards was sent tumbling. Captain Ciarán McManus sent a powerful shot past John Brennan to give Offaly a 2-9 to 1-11 lead.

Carlow made a scorching start with a well-taken second-minute goal by Johnny Nevin. Nevin, making his 302nd senior competitive outing in football and hurling for his county, went on to score 1-3 from play.

Carlow led by an unflattering 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time and Offaly looked in trouble when trailing 1-9 to 0-6 10 minutes into the second half. But Carlow over-elaborated and took wrong options.

Buoyed by a goal 15 minutes into the second half by full forward Niall McNamee, Offaly went on to dominate the final 20 minutes and despite missing two great goal chances, did enough to win.

Both sides ended the game with 14 men. Offaly's Pascal Kellaghan received a straight red card in the final quarter and minutes later he was followed by Carlow's Simon Rea who was issued with a second yellow card.

OFFALY: C McNamara; S Sullivan, C Evans, M Flynn; B Mooney, C Daly, M Mitchell; C McManus (1-3, 1 pen, 1 free, '45), M Daly; K Farrell (0-1), P Kellaghan, A McNamee (0-2); C Quinn (0-1, free), N McNamee (1-2, 1 free), R Malone. Subs: K Slattery for C Daly (inj); J Grennan for Quinn; J Coughlan for Farrell; T Deehan for M Daly.

CARLOW: J Brennan; P Cashin, J Doyle, B English; J Hayden, K Walker, J Kavanagh; J Byrne, M Brennan (0-1); B Carbery, D Byrne, P Higkey (0-4, 2 frees); S Rea (0-2), M Carpenter (0-1), J Nevin (1-3). Subs: B Kelly for Doyle; T Walsh for Carpenter; C McCarty for Carbery; R Walker for J Byrne.

Referee: J Smith (Meath)