Faithful U21’s make two changes
Offaly have made two alterations to their side for Sunday’s Cadbury’s Leinster U21FC quarter-final clash with Longford.
Ken Casey, who was sent off in the first round win over Carlow, is suspended and his place goes to William Mulhall while Alan Lynam is introduced at corner forward with Garret Hickey dropping to the bench.
Offaly (U21FC v Longford) - D. Bracken; G. Grehan, R. Dalton, E. Byrne; S. Lonergan. P. McConway, J. Keane; N. Smith, C. Mahon; N. Darby, R. Connor, S. Ryan; W. Mulhall, T. Coughlan, A. Lynam.
Changes seem logical enough - Mulhall is flying in training apparently. With the added spice of Longford's objection to Ken Casey, and home advantage, Offaly should be "up for it" anyway.
Offaly V Longford U21
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Mighty Pair O' Hands
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Bord na Mona man
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No objections as Offaly class shows
Offaly 1-8
Longford 0-6
OFFALY let their football do the talking as they ended a tumultuous week on a high note with a richly deserved win over Longford in the Leinster U21 Football Championship in Tullamore yesterday.
Eligibility
Longford's objection to the eligibility of star Offaly U21 player Ken Casey in their Allianz Football League draw the previous Sunday added an extra spice to this game. Casey played in Offaly's draw in Pearse Park but it appears he should have been suspended as he was reported for verbal abuse in Offaly's first round U-21 win over Carlow.
The suspended Casey was forced to sit out this game and while his influence was sorely missed by the home side, they still did enough to win.
In a desperately poor first half that was littered with mistakes by both sides, Longford knew they were in trouble when they went in at half-time leading by 0-4 to 0-2.
Despite playing with the wind in that first half, Longford had been outplayed by Offaly and in the second half the home side confirmed their superiority.
Giving a vastly improved display, Offaly made it count on the scoreboard and a superb Seán Ryan goal in the seventh minute gave them a 1-4 to 0-4 lead.
Top form
With Rory Connor, a son of All-Ireland winning captain, Richie, also hitting top form in the second half and kicking three magnificent points and William Mulhall finding his stride, Offaly's passage into the semi-final was assured long before the final whistle.
Crucially, ace Longford attacker Brian Kavanagh was tightly marked by Richie Dalton and the visitors will be disappointed by their overall showing.
SCORERS - Offaly: W Mulhall 0-4 (1f); R Connor 0-3; S Ryan 1-0; N Darby 0-1 (f). Longford: G Dennigan 0-3 (2f); A Rowan, B Kavanagh (f) and S McCormack 0-1 each.
OFFALY - D Bracken; G Grehan, R Dalton, E Byrne; S Lonergan, P McConway, J Keane; N Smith, C Mahon; N Darby, R Connor, S Ryan; W Mulhall, T Coughlan, A Lynam. Subs: D Corbett for S Ryan (48), G Hickey for T Coughlan (60).
LONGFORD - K Burns; K Moran, D Masterson, S Cox; P Kelly, J McCormack, A Rowan; G Dennigan, B McElvaney; P Foy, C Flynn, C Smith; E Gallagher, B Kavanagh, S McCormack. Subs: S Doyle for B McElvaney (inj), J Connolly for S Cox, B O'Connor for C Smith (both h/t).
REF - P Finnegan (Louth).
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/ ... e_id=15332
Offaly 1-8
Longford 0-6
OFFALY let their football do the talking as they ended a tumultuous week on a high note with a richly deserved win over Longford in the Leinster U21 Football Championship in Tullamore yesterday.
Eligibility
Longford's objection to the eligibility of star Offaly U21 player Ken Casey in their Allianz Football League draw the previous Sunday added an extra spice to this game. Casey played in Offaly's draw in Pearse Park but it appears he should have been suspended as he was reported for verbal abuse in Offaly's first round U-21 win over Carlow.
The suspended Casey was forced to sit out this game and while his influence was sorely missed by the home side, they still did enough to win.
In a desperately poor first half that was littered with mistakes by both sides, Longford knew they were in trouble when they went in at half-time leading by 0-4 to 0-2.
Despite playing with the wind in that first half, Longford had been outplayed by Offaly and in the second half the home side confirmed their superiority.
Giving a vastly improved display, Offaly made it count on the scoreboard and a superb Seán Ryan goal in the seventh minute gave them a 1-4 to 0-4 lead.
Top form
With Rory Connor, a son of All-Ireland winning captain, Richie, also hitting top form in the second half and kicking three magnificent points and William Mulhall finding his stride, Offaly's passage into the semi-final was assured long before the final whistle.
Crucially, ace Longford attacker Brian Kavanagh was tightly marked by Richie Dalton and the visitors will be disappointed by their overall showing.
SCORERS - Offaly: W Mulhall 0-4 (1f); R Connor 0-3; S Ryan 1-0; N Darby 0-1 (f). Longford: G Dennigan 0-3 (2f); A Rowan, B Kavanagh (f) and S McCormack 0-1 each.
OFFALY - D Bracken; G Grehan, R Dalton, E Byrne; S Lonergan, P McConway, J Keane; N Smith, C Mahon; N Darby, R Connor, S Ryan; W Mulhall, T Coughlan, A Lynam. Subs: D Corbett for S Ryan (48), G Hickey for T Coughlan (60).
LONGFORD - K Burns; K Moran, D Masterson, S Cox; P Kelly, J McCormack, A Rowan; G Dennigan, B McElvaney; P Foy, C Flynn, C Smith; E Gallagher, B Kavanagh, S McCormack. Subs: S Doyle for B McElvaney (inj), J Connolly for S Cox, B O'Connor for C Smith (both h/t).
REF - P Finnegan (Louth).
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/ ... e_id=15332
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Bord na Mona man
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naasmanxrhode
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Offaly v Longford u/21
Was at the match, Offaly played well but as in the Carlow game could have had at least 3 goals in the first half. The backs were solid but I thought that James Keane has regressed. Not the player he was at minor level. Ken Casey was a big loss. This team could go all the way in Leinster with another home game (semi final) against Meath in Tullamoe on Sunday 18 March.
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Muck Savage
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Lads, anyone know if Sean Ryan was hurty yesterday? Looking at the report he was taken off so I hope nothing serious.
Also, if we're to lose the point from the League game does that mean that Casey will be given a longer ban? I'd think that this means we're guilty and that he could face a much longer ban, hope I'm wrong as it'd great to get to a Leinster U21 final and without him it could be difficult.
Also, if we're to lose the point from the League game does that mean that Casey will be given a longer ban? I'd think that this means we're guilty and that he could face a much longer ban, hope I'm wrong as it'd great to get to a Leinster U21 final and without him it could be difficult.