Antrim have made it two wins from two in Division Three of the Allianz Football League as they survived a late Offaly storm in tough conditions at Corrigan Park on Sunday.
Andy McEntee's side twice enjoyed healthy leads in this game, only to concede a late first-half goal to leave just four in it at the break and then saw a six-point lead whittled down to one in the second.
They were five up and looking very comfortable midway through the second period, but the dismissal of Conor Hand in the 55th minute, just five minutes after his introduction, gave the Faithful a shot in the arm as they were forced to hang on.
But hang on they did to condemn the Faithful to a second defeat in as many weeks and over the course of the game, they probably just deserved it.
They adapted better to the stormy conditions early on with Eoin Hynds and Niall Burns judging the wind to perfection to score.
It would get better on 13 minutes as Eunan Walsh again was the insitgator as he broke through the Offaly defence to find Ronan Boyle who swivelled and netted.
A Marc Jordan point followed as the Saffrons looked on their way, but Offaly eventually settled and came into the game with two Cian Farrell points.
Just as it seemed they were gaining the upper hand, Kavan Keenan forced a turnover as Jordan raced clear and passed to Dominic McEnhill who was bundled over for a penalty he would tuck away.
But Offaly got back into it before there half as they put the squeeze on that forced a turnover of their own and the four-on-two situation ended with Anton Sullivan crashing home to cut the hosts' lead to 2-03 to 1-02 at the half.
Conditions managed to deteriorate with sheeting rain now driving across the field in the second period, but Antrim pushed on with a Michael Byrne free and Niall Burns effort.
They looked comfortable entering the final quarter when Hand was given his marching orders and Offaly took advantage with their own sub, Nigel Dunne cracking a beauty followed in kind by Jordan Hayes seconds later.
Their tails were up and the visiting support sensed it, but were dealt a blow of their own on 64 minutes as Jack Bryant was shown black just two minutes after he had been introduced for a body check on Eunan Walsh.
Still, they narrowed the gap to the minimum entering stoppage time through Dunne and McNamee, but they couldn't find a leveller with shots tailing out to the right in the wind.
Antrim actually had some late chances of their own but they too were unable to convert, but they wouldn't matter as they held on with Offaly now still in search of their first points of the campaign.
Antrim: Michael Byrne (0-01 free); Ronan Boyle (1-00), Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Marc Jordan (0-01), Joseph Finnegan, Dermott McAleese; Colm McLarnon, Paddy McAleer; Eoin Hynds (0-01), Niall Burns (0-02, 1 free), Ruairi McCann (Creggan); Paddy McBride, Cormac McGettigan, Dominic McEnhill (1-00 pen)
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Aidan Bracken, David Dempsey, Lee Pearson; Rory Egan, John Furlong, Jack O'Brien; Morgan Tynan, Jordan Hayes (0-01); Peter Cunningham, Ruairi McNamee (0-02), Cormac Egan; Cian Farrell (0-02, 1 free), Anton Sullivan (1-00), Keith O'Neill.
Subs: Nigel Dunne (0-02) for C Farrell (45), Kevin McDermott for R Egan (53), Jack Bryant for K O'Neill (64)
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)
