Offaly certainly did not have everything their own way when they were forced to dig deep to see off a very brave Waterford in the Tailteann Cup at Walsh Park on Saturday.
While the visitors always looked like they would be able to win, it wasn't comfortable and it is a sign of how competitive the Division 4 side were that they were very relieved to get their second win in the wind up.
A fifth-minute goal against the run of play kept Waterford in it in the first half, Dylan Guiry finishing after Stephen Curry's shot was half blocked.
That gave Waterford a 1-0 to 0-0 lead and Offaly forwards struggled to take advantage of ample possession for the next while. It was fourteen minutes before Cillian Bourke got their second point as the visitors missed some fairly straightforward chances – they had nine first half times compared to one for Waterford.
1-1 to 0-3 behind after 17 minutes, Offaly's attack got their eye in coming up to half time. They got five points in a row, two of them from Jack Bryant and one each from Shane Tierney, Daire McDaid and Cathal Flynn, to lead by four coming up to half time. Jason Curry's free made it 0-8 to 1-2 at half time.
Offaly made hard work of it for a lot of the second half. Cillian Bourke and Jack Bryant missed great early goal chances and Waterford were still in with a chance of a major upset well inside the closing quarter.
A great 48th minute goal from man of the match Cathal Flynn eased Offaly's nerves, giving them a 1-10 to 1-6 lead. Offaly were 1-14 to 1-8 ahead after 61 minutes but three points from Waterford, two of them an excellent two pointer from the outstanding Jason Curry, reduced the gap to three points.
It was in the balance but Offaly controlled the game efficiently from here to the final whistle. They held onto the ball well and four points ensured that Waterford's third two point score, this time from Conor Murray didn't matter.
Offaly now have two wins out of two and are heading out of the group while Waterford have lost their two games and play Wicklow next.
Offaly: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, Daire McDaid (0-01); Diarmuid Egan, John Furlong, Cormac Egan (0-01); Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes (0-02); Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn (1-01), Cillian Bourke (0-01); Aaron Kellaghan (0-01), Jack Bryant (0-02), Shane Tierney (0-05, 1f).
Subs: Dylan Hyland (0-02) for Kellaghan (46m), Rory Egan (0-02) for Cormac Egan (50m), Ruari McNamee (Rhode) for Hyland (58m), Aaron Leavy for Furlong (68m), Marcas Dalton for Diarmuid Egan (70m),
Waterford: Aaron Beresford; Tommy Martin, Caoimhin Walsh, Billy Hynes; Conor O'Cuirrin, Joe Booth Donie Fitzgerald; Adam Crawford, Jason Curry (0-06, 1f, 1 '45', 1 tp); Michael O'Brien (0-04, 1f and 1 tp), James Power, Conor Murray (0-02, 1 tp); Stephen Curry, Ciaran Walsh, Dylan Guiry (1-00).
Subs: Rory Furlong for Stephen Curry (51m), Alan Dunwoody for Fitzgerald (56m), Caolan MacCathmhaoil (0-01) for Guiry (62m), Loughlin Walsh for Ciaran Walsh (70m),
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).
