Offaly claim promotion to Division Three with win over Antrim

Offaly 1-13 Antrim 1-7

Offaly secured promotion to Division Three when a professional and hard-working performance saw them win with six points to spare over Antrim at O’Connor Park yesterday.

It was a strange type of game. While the winning margin was a fair reflection of Offaly's superiority, it was anything but plain sailing and the winners had reason to be grateful to goalkeeper Alan Mulhall who pulled off some incredible saves.

Antrim found the going tough and they could only manage 1-2 from play while Offaly's win was fashioned with their star forwards, Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan, not getting on the score sheet.

The home side started off well but were shocked when a breakaway goal from CJ McCourty gave Antrim a 1-0 to 0-2 lead after six minutes.

Nigel Dunne hit back immediately with a goal and Offaly deservedly led by 1-5 to 1-2 at half-time.

In the second half, Offaly always looked like winning but Antrim hung on gamely for a long time. They were only a point behind, 1-7 to 1-6, with 19 minutes left but Offaly put the boot down after this. They got six clear with eight minutes left and this gave them the cushion they needed, though Mulhall kept their advantage intact with two great late saves.

OFFALY: A Mulhall; B Darby, J Ledwith, D Brady; N Darby, J Moloney, J O'Connor; G Guilfoyle (0-2), N Smith; E Carroll, N McNamee, A Sullivan; B Allen (0-6, three frees), N Dunne 1-2 ( one 45), W Mulhall 0-3 (one free).

Subs: E Rigney for Ledwith (27 mins), P Cunningam for W Mulhall (67mins), J Evans for Dunne (68mins), N Bracken for Allen (69 mins).

ANTRIM: C Kerr; J Laverty, C Burke, D Lynch; R Johnston, J Crozier (0-1), T Scullion; B Hasson, O Gallagher; C McGuinness, C Murray, M Fitzpatrick; CJ McCourty (1-4, four frees), M Pollock (0-2, one free), R Murray.

Subs: P McBride for Lynch (27 mins), D McAleese for R Murray (half-time), N McKeever for Fitzpatrick (44 mins), R McGregor for Gallagher (59 mins), J Carron for Hasson (68 mins), M Kane for McBride (black card, 70 mins).

Ref eree: L Devenney (Mayo).