A towering performance from captain Ciaran McManus saw Offaly edge Down in today's Allianz National Football League Division Two final in Croke Park.
McManus's boundless energy, physical strength and personal tally of five points combined to prove the difference between the two sides in a slightly disappointing encounter which the Leinster side edged 1-10 to 1-8.
Down, who lost their captain Sean Ward to injury early on, started the better, scoring the first two points. However, as the half wore on Offaly began to find their feet and had levelled the game at 0-05 apiece by the interval.
With McManus increasingly influential after the break, and after scoring the first two points of the second half, Neville Coughlan scored a crucial goal for Offaly after exploiting poor Down defending.
A magnificent point from Faithful defender Scott Brady followed but a 50th minute goal from Shane Ward, after excellent work from Down's best player Benny Coulter, put Paddy O'Rourke's men right back in it.
However, Down didn't have sufficient guile to trouble Offaly enough in the closing stages and McManus's continued dominance in midfield saw his team home to a two-point victory.
SCORECARD:
Down 1-08 -- 1-10 Offaly
Down scores: Doyle (0-02 - both frees), Hughes (0-01), Coulter (0-01), G McCartan (0-02 - both frees), Walsh (0-02 - both frees), S Ward (1-00).
Offaly scores: McManus (0-05 - 3 frees), N McNamee (0-01), Grennan (0-01), Malone (0-01), Brady (0-01), J Coughlan (0-01), N Coughlan (1-00).
Filed by James Boylan
