Offaly 1-10 DIT 1-05: Offaly qualified to meet Meath in the O'Byrne Cup semi-final when they overcame DIT in Tullamore yesterday but they had to fight hard. A fourth-minute goal by Neville Coughlan set Offaly up for a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead, and as they had played against a strong wind their semi-final place looked assured.
DIT had other ideas, however, and helped by a goal from a 30-metre free by Damien Munnelly that goalkeeper Kevin Meehan deflected to the net they drew level midway through the half. That setback appeared to stir Offaly, who added five points in a bad-tempered final quarter during which Offaly were reduced to 14 players when Karol Slattery was sent off for a second bookable offence.
OFFALY: K Meehan; B Mooney, C Daly, S Sullivan; M Mitchell (0-1), G Rafferty, K Slattery; C McManus (0-2), A McNamee; C Farrell, P Kellaghan (0-2), N McNamee (0-2); T Deehan (0-1), N Coughlan (1-1), J Reynolds. Subs: J Coughlan (0-1) for Farrell; J Quinn for A McNamee; B Malone for Reynolds; M Daly for Deehan.
DIT: S Halpin; F Smith, T Bannon, A Dennis; D Burke, P Begley, M Hanafin; C Prenderville, L Mooney; C McGinley, S Bray (0-1), J Melia (0-2); J Behan, J Doyle, D Munnelly (1-2). Subs: R O'Hagan for McGinley; D O'Halloran for Dennis; M Fitzmaurice for Behan; J Carleton for Doyle; D Hoare for Hanafin.
Referee: P Daly (Westmeath).
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