Down secured their fourth Division 3 win on Saturday in Pairc Esler with a two-goal victory over Offaly who are still searching for their first win. Only one of those goals was in the first period, with a strange spell in the second half when the green flag was raised five times.
The Faithful county were no doubt still reeling from letting Clare back in the game last week, relinquishing a commanding lead before Peter Cunningham blazed a penalty over the bar at the death to gift the Banner county a one-point victory, but that wasn't enough to spur them to a win in this one.
Offaly got off to a flying start with a goal chance from Jordan Hayes from throw-in that he fired low over the bar and Dylan Hayes converting a free moments later.
Down quickly settled however with a free from Pat Havern and a point from Odhran Murdock levelling proceedings.
In the sixth minute the home side went in front with a three-pointer provide by Liam Kerr who swooped in and drilled into the net after Daniel Guinness had worked his way into the square but fumbled over the ball losing it.
Traded points followed between Hyland and injury returnee Caolan Mooney and Havern and Keith O’Neill, but Offaly could have levelled the match on 13 minutes when they showed their pace with a break and Down goalkeeper John O’Hare saving a shot by Lee Pearson.
Down kept the scoreboard ticking over and despite three loose passes in the last five minutes of the half that gifted Offaly the ball, Declan Kelly’s men couldn’t take advantage and the Mournemen led 1-07 to 0-06 at the short whistle.
Danny Magill, on his first start back from injury, scored his first of the day for Down fisting over the bar on 37 minutes and half-time sub Ryan Johnston tagged on a point. But five minutes later Murdock hit the net to give Down a 2-08 to 0-07 lead and thus began a 10-minute goal-fest.
Kerr increased the lead to 10 points with a cracking finish from the edge of the square off the underside of the crossbar but Down had no sooner finished celebrating when Bryant broke down the other end and hit the net. Cathal Flynn wasted a gilt-edged chance to narrow the margin by three more.
He did all the hard work, slicing through the middle unchallenged but somehow fired wide of the goalmouth. After traded points, O’Neill made it 4-09 to 2-09 with another Offaly goal on 53 minutes and while Daniel Guinness replied in kind at the other end moments later, his goal didn’t count for steps. Danny Magill then had a shot well saved by Offaly keeper Ian Duffy.
The crowd had a breather after that, with normal service resuming. Offaly finished the game with 14 men when John Furlong was red carded on 67 minutes but Down had done enough by then and won out 4-12 to 2-14 in the end.
Down: John O’Hare; Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Ceilum Doherty; Miceal Rooney (0-01), Pierce Laverty, Paddy McCarthy; Odhran Murdock (1-01), Shane Annett; Caolan Mooney (0-01), Liam Kerr (2-00), Daniel Guinness; Danny Magill (0-01), Pat Havern (0-06, 5f), James Guinness
Subs: Ryan Johnston (1-01) for Annett (H-T), Oisin Savage for J Guinness (H-T), Anthony Doherty for McEvoy (42), Jonny Flynn for Mooney (43), Ryan Magill (0-01) for McCarthy (66)
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, Aidan Bracken; Cormac Egan, John Furlong, Jack O’Brien; Eoin Carroll, Peter Cunningham; Kevin McDermott, Ruairi McNamee, Jordan Hayes (0-01); Dylan Hyland (0-02,1f), Keith O’Neill (1-02), Jack Bryant (1-05, 5f)
Subs: Anton Sullivan (0-03, 1f) for Hyland (20), Cathal Flynn (0-01) for McNamee (45), Nathan Poland for McDermott (45), Rory Egan for O’Brien (53), Adam Bolger for Pearson (63)
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
