Clare lay waste to any Offaly ambitions

Clare 2-14 Offaly 0-19:OFFALY'S HOPES of promotion and a place in the Division One B final were ended in dramatic fashion by Clare in Tullamore yesterday. Clare already had their safe passage to the final booked but this didn't affect their desire as they took the spoils with a late rally.

Clare’s played most of the game with 14 men after Fergal Lynch was red carded after coming in contact with David Kenny in the eighth minute.

Trailing by 0-18 to 1-13 inside the last five minutes, Clare took the lead with a Colin Egan goal after less than spectacular Offaly defending and after Cathal Parlon equalised, they snatched victory with a brilliant last-minute point from Aaron Cunningham.

Shane Dooley was one of the main reasons Offaly went so close to winning as he scored 12 points. Colin Ryan was Clare’s chief marksman with seven points while James McInerney produced a great display in the Clare defence.

Offaly struggled to find their best form in the first half but they were well in it when trailing by 0-6 to 0-5 after 23 minutes. Clare then hit a sustained spell of pressure that yielded points from Liam Markham, Cunningham, Camin Morey and Patrick Kelly as they strode into a five-point lead.

Only a few bad misses kept Clare in Offaly’s sight and the home side finished well with two Shane Dooley frees to trail by only 0-10 to 0-7 at the break.

A point from Colin Egan put Offaly in front in the 11th minute of the second half and the game was there for the taking for the home side. Clare, however, had other plans and they quickly had Offaly on the back foot. Colin Ryan equalised with a point that they were crying out for before Dooley’s 65 put Offaly back in front.

In the 52nd minute, Bryan Donnellan brought the Clare support to their feet with a goal as he sped through the middle and drove a low shot to the net. In the face of adversity, Offaly stood up to be counted and with Shane Dooley and Joe Bergin finding the range, they were back in front, 0-17 to 1-13, with 12 minutes left.

Shane Dooley’s point from a penalty after Joe Bergin was taken out of it by Donal Tuohy put Offaly two in front but also kept the door open for Clare who gratefully took advantage and they now look forward to a final meeting against neighbours Limerick.

CLARE: D Tuohy; E Glynn, P Kelly (0-1), D O’Donovan; E Barrett, J McInerney, P O’Connor; C Galvin, L Markham (0-1); C Morey (0-1), C Ryan (0-7, six frees), F Lynch; C McInerney (0-2), C Chaplin (1-0), A Cunningham (0-2). Subs: S O’Halloran for Morey (half-time), B Donnellan (1-0) for Galvin (half-time), E Hayes for C McInerney (50 mins).

OFFALY: J Dempsey; C McDonald, D Kenny, D Franks; B Harding, D Morkan (0-1), J Rigney; D Horan, B Murphy; J Bergin (0-3), C Mahon, D Mooney; S Dooley (0-12, eight frees, one pen, one 65), G Healion, S Ryan (0-1). Subs: E Murphy for Mooney (28 mins), C Egan (0-1) for Healion (half-time), T Carroll for Ryan (44 mins), C Parlon (0-1) for Carroll (54 mins).

Referee: J Sexton (Cork).