Offaly end winless league campaign with home defeat

Offaly 0-18

Meath 2-22

The final whistle has blown on a disappointing Allianz NFL Division 2 campaign for the Offaly senior footballers following their 10 point loss to Meath in Glenisk O'Connor Park Tullamore on Sunday.

Similar to their senior hurling counterparts, the Faithful County failed to win a fixture during their league campaign and will be hoping for a turn of fortunes when the Leinster senior football championship throws in next month.

Ultimately it was just as comprehensive as the scoreline would suggest as Meath secured promotion back to NFL Division 1 and a place in next Sunday's Division 2 final against Cork.

There were times when Offaly threatened to test Meath and make them sweat for their promotion, but the Royals never had to shift into top gear as they cruised to the win without any undue stress.

Offaly added some gloss to their tally with the final four points of the contest, but by that stage Meath had effectively packed up the two points and promotion and turned focus to the league final with players gaining some valuable game time.

Offaly were gifted an early boost when Jack Flynn got in the way of a quick solo-and-go and Conor Melia trotted up from his goals to clip over a two-point free.

Meath's response was emphatic. Flynn made amends with a brilliant pass to pick out Menton and the Donaghmore/Ashbourne veteran showed the finishing finesse of Morris or Lynch by firing to the net from a tight angle.

Menton's finish dampened any Offaly plans for a fast start and then a fortunate call that gifted Meath a 29th-minute penalty following a coming together between Cian McBride and an Offaly defender really put the issue beyond doubt.

Meath were the superior outfit throughout however with Offaly never finding any rhythm over the game's duration.

Lynch and Keogan added points before the ninth minute to move Meath 1-2 to 0-2 clear, but Offaly ran at a Royal rearguard that retreated a little too deep and were rewarded with a simple score from Darragh Flynn.

A brilliant turnover by Keogan led to a second point for Lynch, but then Shane Tierney took advantage of an advanced mark to make it 0-4 to 1-3.

A silly foul by Kinsella on Lee Pearson handed Tierney a free, patient attacking play set up Daire McDaid for a two-pointer and a dangerous run along the endline led to a score from Jordan Hayes as Offaly took a 0-8 to 1-3 lead by the 21st minute.

After their pedestrian spell, Meath shifted up a gear and after Morris pointed a free, Sean Coffey and Lynch clipped over points to edge the Royals ahead again.

A fine move involving Frayne, Ciaran Caulfield and Kinsella set McBride through on goals, but as a big hit came in the Meath player fell and referee Seamus Mulhare signalled for a penalty which Morris converted to make it 2-6 to 0-8.

Morris ended a barren spell without a score from play (his last was with eight minutes to go against Kildare) and then added another three minutes later to make it 2-8 to 0-8.

A mix up after Tierney's fisted effort came back off the upright gifted Flynn a fisted point, but Meath had the last word of the half and took a 2-9 to 0-9 lead to the break with Frayne opening his account.

Flynn closed the deficit to five within a minute of the restart, but Sean Brennan stretched Meath's lead a minute later when he landed a two-point free after Offaly had breached the four-back defensive rule.

Caulfield and Kinsella stretched that lead to nine points before Hayes pulled one back for Offaly, but Meath were well in control and with McBride dominating the kickouts Morris and Keogan pointed either side of a McDaid point before McBride, Frayne and James Conlon closed the third quarter with scores to ensure a 2-18 to 0-12 lead and no way back for Offaly.

The latter stages were pedestrian with Morris (two), Jason Scully and Conlon closing Meath's account, while Harry Plunkett enjoyed a plentiful final few minutes with three points.

Flynn, Hayes and Eoin Sawyer closed Offaly's scoring, but Meath already had their mission accomplished with promotion back to Division 1 secured.

Offaly's attention now turns to the Leinster senior football championship and an opening round game against Laois in Glenisk O'Connor Park on Saturday, April 11, at 6.15pm.

Joint managers Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte will have much to mull over in advance of the championship fixture and will be hoping that injuries clear up to allow the duo choose from a full panel of players.

Offaly - Conor Melia (0-2, tpf); Shane O'Toole Green, David Dempsey, Lee Pearson; Cormac Egan, Diarmuid Egan, Rory Egan; Jack McEvoy, Ed Cullen; Marcas Dalton, Jordan Hayes (0-3), Daire McDaid (0-3, 1tp); Niall Furlong, Shane Tierney (0-2, 1f, 1 mark), Darragh Flynn (0-4). Subs: Dylan Hyland for Cullen, Eoin Sawyer (0-1) for D Egan (both half-time); Harry Plunkett (0-3, 1f) for Tierney (53 mins); Eoin Dunne for Furlong (60); Robbie Gallagher for Flynn (69).

Meath - Sean Brennan (0-2, tpf); Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Brian O’Halloran; Donal Keogan (0-2), Sean Coffey (0-1), Ciaran Caulfield (0-1); Bryan Menton (1-0), Jack Flynn; Jack O'Connor, Ruairi Kinsella (0-1), Cian McBride (0-1); Jordan Morris (1-6, 1-0pen, 1f), Eoghan Frayne (0-2), Aaron Lynch (0-3). Subs: Cathal Hickey for O'Connor (48 mins); James Conlon (0-2) for Lynch (53); Conor Duke for Flynn (58); Jason Scully (0-1) for Menton, Killian Smyth for Caulfield (both 63).

Referee - Seamus Mulhare (Laois).