Offaly boosted their chances of Allianz Football League Division 3 survival when securing a hard-fought draw against Sligo at a wet and overcast Markievicz Park.
Substitute Nigel Dunne kicked the equaliser in the 69th minute for an industrious Offaly, who notched the game's last two scores.
Sligo missed the chance of grabbing a one-point win in stoppage time and were 0-13 to 1-8 up with 67 minutes played - they can’t be promoted after this result.
The Tony McEntee-managed Connacht side came into this fixture already assured of their Division 3 status for another 12 months, still with a slim chance of getting promotion and anxious to rebound from their 12-point loss away to Down in the previous round.
Offaly, meanwhile, had won just once in five Division 3 fixtures this year and were third from bottom in the standings. Declan Kelly’s charges had been unlucky in a number of these games, with two of their losses by one-point margins, but they scored 5-15 in their sole victory so far when beating Wicklow in round five.
In the wind and rain it was Offaly that settled immediately and Dylan Hyland, who would kick four points in the opening half, got half of his tally in the opening five minutes.
Sligo were level by the eighth minutes thanks to a brace from their talisman, Sean Carrabine, but the home side were guilty of several unforced turnovers.
With 21 minutes gone it was 0-03 apiece – Darragh Cummins brought Sligo level – and then came a potential turning point as Offaly converted a penalty in the 26th minute, Anton Sullivan netting with aplomb.
This well-taken spot kick helped Offaly stay in front at the break, 1-06 to 0-07, despite Sligo firing over good points from Alan McLoughlin.
The visitors should have been much further in front at half-time but they kicked seven wides in that scrappy opening half.
Sligo improved in the second-half and four points on the bounce had them in front, 0-11 to 1-06, by the 43rd minute – this phase included a superb point from Niall Murphy and an equally fine finish from Nathan Mullen.
Offaly’s first score of the second-half was Dylan Hyland’s fifth of the game – with 51 minutes on the clock – and even with Cormac Egan working hard for the Leinster county, this was Sligo’s game to lose.
A classy point from Alan McLoughlin – his third of the afternoon – and a pointed free from Niall Murphy moved Sligo two points clear, 0-13 to 1-08, with Offaly keeping in touch via a good point from Keith O’Neill.
The Midlanders kept the pressure on and Sligo were happy to absorb it but another excellent point from Keith O’Neill and then substitute Nigel Dunne’s converted free brought Offaly a merited draw.
Sligo, who had eight wides compared to Offaly’s 11, will certainly rue not pushing on when they regained the lead. Offaly play Limerick in their final game.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Paul McNamara, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons; Canice Mulligan, Darragh Cummins (0-01), Nathan Mullen (0-01); Patrick O’Connor (0-01), Paul Kilcoyne (0-01); Alan McLoughlin (0-03), Donal Conlon, Cian Lally; Eoghan Smith, Sean Carrabine (0-04, 3f), Niall Murphy (c) (0-02, 1f)
Subs: Daire O’Boyle for Donal Conlon, h-t; Keelan Cawley for Eoghan Smith, 59; Mikey Gordon for Alan McLoughlin, 68; David Quinn for Cian Lally, 68; Peter Laffey for Darragh Cummins, 70+2
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Aidan Bracken, Declan Hogan, Lee Pearson (c) (0-01); Cormac Egan, David Dempsey, John Furlong; Eoin Carroll, Peter Cunningham; Dylan Hyland (0-05, 1 'mark’), Ruairi McNamee, Jordan Hayes; Anton Sullivan (1-00, pen), Keith O’Neill (0-02), Jack Byrant (0-01)
Subs: Jack McEvoy for Jordan Hayes, 45; Cathal Flynn for Anton Sullivan, 48; Nigel Dunne (0-01, f) for Jack Bryant, 52; Jack O’Brien for Lee Pearson, 59; Nathan Poland for Ruairi McNamee, 63
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
