Carlow through to Joe McDonagh Cup final as Offaly put to the sword

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 5

Carlow 1-27

Offaly 0-14

The stakes were huge for Carlow with a win putting them in the final and this showed in the intensity levels of both sides. It was a knockout championship game for Carlow, nothing of the sort for Offaly and the home side had one foot in the final with a ten point half time lead.

The second half was a complete non event with a 43rd minute goal from Conor Kehoe making it 1-19 to 0-8 and the game was over – not that there was any chance of Offaly rescuing it anyway.

The selected Offaly team was a talking point in the build up to the final. With a Joe McDonagh Cup final place secured, Offaly management opted to do what they felt was right for the squad – starting just four players who were there for the throw in against Kerry the previous weekend: Ben Conneely, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher and Paddy Delaney.

The stakes were simple here: A Carlow win would put them in the final while if Offaly won, the pathway was then open for the winners of Kerry and Laois in Tralee.

Carlow played very well on the day and a 1-29 score is an excellent return. Carlow led by 0-16 to 0-6 at half time and could have been even further ahead. Chris Nolan had the ball in the net after six minutes but it was pulled back for an earlier free and Martin Kavanagh pointed to make it 0-3 to 0-0. Martin Kavanagh also had a good chance before the interval but drew a good save from Eamonn Cleary while Carlow also missed a few decent point chances.

Carlow hit the ground runnng from the start and had six points on the board before Shane Dooley opened Offaly's account with a tenth minute free. The home side added another three points before Dara Maher got Offaly's first point from play in the 16th minute. 

Carlow were 0-12 to 0-3 up after 21 minutes and by half time, had extended their advantage to ten – and that was a perfectly accurate reflection of the way the first half went.

Offaly got the first two points of the second half but Carlow then responded with three and Conor Keohoe's goal put them 14 points ahead. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Martin Kavanagh (Carlow): After a comparatively quiet first half, Martin Kavanagh really cut loose in the second half, getting some excellent points from play. He oozed class while Kevin McDonald and Diarmuid Byrne also impressed for them. James Doyle had an excellent first half and Paddy Boland's ability to win high ball will have been noted by Offaly.

THE SCORERS

Carlow: Martin Kavanagh 0-14 (7f and 1 '65'), Chris Nolan 0-5 (1f and 1 sideline), Conor Kehoe 1-1, James Doyle 0-3, Paddy Boland 0-2, Kevn McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, John Michael Nolan and Jon Nolan 0-1 each.

Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-7 (4f), Dara Maher 0-2, James Nally, Paddy Delaney, Liam Langton, John Murphy and Eimhin Kelly 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Eamonn Cleary (Shinrone); Conor Hardiman (Kinnitty), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), James Nally (Belmont); Dara Maher (Shinrone), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Eoghan Parlon (Coolderry); Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty), Jack Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Liam Langton (Clodiagh Gaels), Joey Keenaghan (Clodiagh Gaels), Conor Langton (Clodiagh Gaels); Cathal O'Meara (Clara), Shane Dooley (Tullamore), John Murphy (Ballinamere). Subs –Eimhin Kelly (Lumagh) for O'Meara (HT), Paddy Clancy (Belmont) for Sampson (HT), David King (Coolderry) for Conor Langton (52m), Jack Clancy (Belmont) for Screeney (65m),

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, Jack McCullagh; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack Kavanagh; Conor Kehoe, Kevin McDonald; Jon Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, James Doyle; John Michael Nolan, Paddy Boland, Chris Nolan. Subs – Fiach O'Toole for Kehoe (60m), Niall Bolger for Doyle (62m), Richard Coady for John Michael Nolan (65m), Jack Treacy for Chris Nolan (67m), Paudie O'Shea for Kavanagh (69m),

Referee – Chris Mooney, Dublin.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 14 (5 in first half); Carlow - (18 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 0; Carlow – 1 (Jack Kavanagh).

Red cards: 0