Rousing Roscommon rally just falls short against Offaly

With fifteen minutes of the second half gone in this topsy-turvy Allianz National Football League Division 3 game at resplendent O'Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday afternoon last, Offaly looked as if they would coast to ultimate victory over Roscommon as they held a convincing 2-14 to 1-9 led. Fergal O'Donnell's charges, while launching many forward forays for the next fourteen minutes or so, were being continually frustrated to see hard-won possession being thwarted with the last pass either ending up in Offaly hands or going astray. Their only reward in this spell where they had plenty of opportunity was a Donal Shine pointed free. And then it happened! A suicidal pass by an Offaly player with six minutes remaining was seized upon by wing back Cathal Cregg who showed his attack how it's done by planting the ball in the Offaly net. Suddenly alighted, Roscommon found their scoring touch in those final minutes, rattling over three excellent points from play to make it a one-point game, courtesy of John Rogers, sub Enda Kenny and David O'Gara. They spurned a couple of glorious opportunities of grabbing at least a draw in those hectic closing stages, and it was a visibly relieved Offaly who held out to take the two points on offer. In turn, Roscommon were condemned to their second successive one point defeat and their third in all, thereby leaving them still pointless in this division. If a week is a long time in politics, then surely a year is an eternity in Gaelic football. Roscommon supporters who surprisingly formed the majority of the 1,200 or so attendance on a beautifully sunny, if decidedly chilly afternoon at O'Connor Park, must have looked back wistfully to last year's opening league encounter at Kiltoom, which saw the primrose and blue gain an 0-16 to 0-7 win over a Faithful side then immersed in managerial strife. Fast forward to Sunday last. Only three of the Tricolours was started in that Newpark for them debacle survived for the latest Midland derby, while the Rossies started but five of that victorious Kiltoom combination (David Casey came on as a second half sub). Roscommon began with Ger Heneghan at right half forward instead of listed Kevin Higgins, the latter called up at half time to be sited at midfield. Certainly, that home full-forward line repaid the confidence shown in them with an explosive start. Offaly hit the ground running, with John Reynolds pointing after only ten seconds. Niall McNamee (free) added another while the highly impressive David Egan rose his team's third white flag a minute later and so each of the Offaly front line of attack had scored in almost as many minutes. Roscommon got off the scoring mark seven minutes in when Donal Shine pointed the resultant free following a foul on Daniel O'Gara, but they suffered a major set back when in the ninth minute of play, the in-rushing Ciaran McManus was brought down for a penalty which Niall McNamee unerringly converted. Roscommon replied in the best possible manner, as almost form the kickout a Donal Shine delivery via midfielder Mark O'Carroll came to corner forward John Rogers - Goal! It would however prove only a temporary aberration from the Offaly dominance. Buoyed by excellent defensive displays and with the brand new midfield combination of John Coughlan and Ciaran McManus edging matters in the sector. Offaly were creating plenty of opportunities and once again it was that lethal full forward line who obliged, with David Egan (0-2), John Reynolds and Niall McNamee all from play on target. Play then ebbed and flowed and Roscommon's Donal Shine (three point, two free and 1 '45') and Michael Finneran (0-1 play) followed an Offaly brace of points per Niall McNamee. Offaly were still four points to the good as the half edged towards its conclusion. A sizzling Roscommon riposte featuring three splendid points from play per Ger Heneghan and impressive newcomer. St. Croan's James Connaughton (2) made it a one-point game. But then matters turned again as looked that Offaly struck back with a renewed vengeance. Clara club duo Scott Brady and John Reynolds shipped the Roscommon defence for the latter to despatch his side's second goal with Niall McNamee's fisted point and a similar score from Birr's Sean Ryan restoring a six-point Offaly advantage at referee Gary McCormack's short whistle. Half time score: Offaly 2-11, Roscommon 1-8 Roscommon resumed with Kevin Higgins introduced for wing back Ian Kilbride, the Western Gaels player now teaming up with Michael Finneran at midfield. It was highly unlikely that the high-wire scoring intensity of the first half would be maintained and so indeed proved to be the case for the greater part of the second moiety. Initial trends gave little indication of anything resembling a spellbinding finish, with Niall McNamee (play) and Donal Shine exchanging early points. Offaly had men in depth behind the ball but were rewarded in a couple of rare upfield sorties with another brace of points from the impeccable Niall McNamee to bring the Rhode sharpshooters tally to 1-8 for the afternoon, simultaneously opening up an eight-point gap with 20 minutes remaining. Amazingly, Offaly would not score again in the league encounter, but it must also be stated that there appeared, ostensibly, little sign of a Roscommon resurgence. However despite huffing and puffing to no real avail for much of that last quarter, Roscommon almost pulled off the impossible. It was in many ways an amazing game with Offaly in full flight looking well night invincible, their free-scoring inside forward trio of David Egan, John Reynolds and Niall McNamee, sheer poetry in motion in that first half. It would have bordered on the catastrophic (for them) if they were pipped at the post, but they will ponder on that last quarter collapse, long and hard before making the journey over the Curlews to meet Kevin Walsh's Sligo in round four next Sunday. It's been simply dreadful opening set of results for a Roscommon team still missing a number of key regulars, with the recently announced retirement of hero of many a battle, Gary Cox a further blow to the squad. That said and while no excuses can be put forward for that first round drubbing versus Cavan, they enjoyed no luck at all against Fermanagh and as things turned out, could have taken something from their trip to Tullamore on Sunday. Antrim will provide tough opposition in Hyde Park but a fully committed display for the whole hour can produce a badly needed win to ignite their season. In an uneven performance last weekend Geoffrey Claffey, Peter Domican, Cathal Cregg, Michael Finneran, James Connaughton, John Rogers and Donal Shine were best. Teams and Scorers: Offaly: Alan Mulhall, Ciaran Kiely, Shane Sullivan, Brian Darby, Conor Carroll, Richie Dalton, Stephen Lonergan, John Coughlan, Ciaran McManus, Alan Lynam, Scott Brady, Sean Ryan (0-1), David Egan (0-3), John Reynolds (1-2) and Niall McNamee (1-8, 1-0 pen). Subs: Peter Smart for Egan (61), Padraig Sullivan and Ross Brady for Ryan and Scott Brady (double substitution 70). Roscommon: Geoffrey Claffey, Sean McDermott, Michael Killilea, Stephen Ormsby, Cathal Cregg (1-0), Ian Kilbride, Peter Domican, Michael Finneran (0-1), Mark O'Carroll, Sean Purcell, James Connaughton (0-2), Ger Henegan (0-1), John Rogers (1-1), Donal Shine (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 '45') and David O'Gara (0-1). Subs: Kevin Higgins for Kilbride, Enda Kenny (0-1) for Purcell (42), David Casey for Killilea (53) and Darragh Hussey for Heneghan (55). Referee: Gary McCormack (Dublin)