Offaly withstand late Carlow rally to reach Leinster quarter final

Offaly footballers' championship season will extend for another week, at least, after a hard-fought victory against Carlow this afternoon in O'Connor Park.

Offaly were eight points to the good with 12 minutes of normal time remaining (3-13 to 0-14) but were pegged back by a late Carlow rally which saw the visitors peg back the lead with six successive unanswered points.

It left a nervous finale as Offaly held onto a narrow two-point lead in the dying moments of the game.

Offaly's situation wasn't helped with the black carding of Cian Farrell on 58 minutes. But the Edenderry star returned to the fray to add the crucial injury time score that put paid to Carlow's late resurgence.

Farrell's 73rd minute point ensured victory for Offaly on a 3-14 to 0-20 scoreline.

The Offaly goals came from Niall McNamee (with his side's first score of the game) and Jordan Hayes in the first half, which left Offaly leading by 2-6 to 0-9 at half time.

Bernard Allen added the third goal for John Maughan's men after the break.

Offaly now play Kildare in the Leinster Senior Football Championship quarter final on Saturday next.