Offaly V Down Round 3 Qualifier

[western exile]

An Dun came away with a hard fought 2 point win. But once again failed to close out a game with too many wides in last 10 minutes.
However, they were lucky to be only 3 points behind at half time as their defence was all at sea in the first half.
Offaly were excellent. They got off with a perfect start with a goal in first minutes. They were first to every ball and overlaped quickly and cleverly.
An Dún were late to field again for second half and all the extra talking obviously worked as they were an improved team. Their goal was a great strike from Aidan Carr. when taking a point was sensible thing to do, he threw dummy, side-stepped and hit corner of net from tight angle.
An Dun worthy winners in the end, but Offaly have some great young talent who should only get better

[Mourne Rover]

It was hard to listen to that game on that radio tonight, and hear some familiar problems surfacing again, but the bottom line is that we are in the hat tomorrow night and very much in the gain zone for the season.

My spies in Tullamore say that, after a dodgy start, big Dan was better than the commentators suggested and should be retained at full back for the next day.

However, there is no doubting our continuing flaws at the back and, sadly, we can now be fairly sure that Colgan's strength and determination will not compensate for a lack of pace against the better teams.

Carr's return, and apparently his goal was a peach, gives us options at both half back and half forward, and we still have the firing power to trouble most teams.

We have yet to play particularly well this summer, but, depending on the draw, we are still in a a decent chance of our first appearance in the last eight since the qualifiers were introduced a decade ago. It's a great position to be in, and in many ways the pressure is already off our squad and very much on all our our potential opponents.

[snoopdog]

Just home from tullamore, Down were blessed to win that one. Offally have improved hughely over the last few games, goes to show how a few games in the qualifiers can help0 gel a team. Down could have been beaten in the first 10 minutes .
Yet agan the old fralities come through the faithful won alot of breaking ball around the middle and some of Downs passing was terrible, another team could have easily destroyed Down tonight. But we live to fight another day.
Beautiful ground.
Prices into it were rediculoud 20 euro for terrace 25 for stand. The GAA will reap what they sow, can only rip people off for so long.
These prices are a joke and no wonder no one goes to the games anymore. GAA deserve what they get, the country is broke but still it rides the followers.

[dodgy umpire]

As snoopdog says the entry fee was ridiculous but in the end it proved to be worth it with a some what unconvincing yet deserved victory. Aidan Carr's goal was a classy effort and he can feel hard done by to be taken off, as can John Clarke who had a decent game. Mc Veigh made a great save and his kick outs were good bar one. Our midfield struggled initially but came into it as the game went on, and as has been mentioned some wayward shooting prevented us from going further ahead towards the end. Lets hope for another good draw tomorrow

[Pangurban]

A dispiriting victory, Offaly can consider themselves unlucky, they played the better football. Poor marking, short passing out of defence, wayward passing and shooting, almost cost Down dear. At FB Dan is fine under high balls, but can not cope with pacey running forwards, on the evidence of last couple of games Colgan is not yet up to county standard, he is a poor man marker, and even when he is given freedom to play as a sweeper,  he lacks the pace to break out fast, and his distribution is poor. I am not knocking his fledging talent, just think he is being expected to do too much too soon,  Down need a solid CHB, and he is not the Man, but i think Gordon could be

[Dubh driocht]

Most important thing for Down was the result but some fair comments on here.Offaly had a strong spine- Dalton, Connor, Mc Namee and Coughlan were outstanding and the great Ciaran Mc Manus did well in parts. He was reluctant to leave the field afterwards and I wonder it that it from him? He can reflect on being the main-man on their 97 Leinster win, outstanding displays for Ireland and single-handledly beat Down in the Division 2 league final as well as a Division 1 medal too. One of the best.
Onwards and upwards for Down- the draw will be critical- we can't get Tyrone if they lose and anyone other than Monaghan( if they lose) could be beaten.

[INDIANA]

Nice to see Offaly getting a bit of stability. Been on an unbelieavable slide. Some decent schools teams with Edenderry and some decent minor teams have improved matters for them. Still should be knocking around Div 2 in my view. With forwards like Mc Namee and Anton Sullivan they'll always give defences problems. Its the other end unfortunately.

[Shortso79]

any word on the attendance for this match

[AZOffaly]

Congrats to Down, hope ye had another good evening after the match in the real heart of Ireland Disappointed to lose, but encouraged by reports from the game (I was away so couldn't make it), and at least it goes some way towards making up for the embarrasment of 2008. Ye'd want to be worried though. If this rate of improvement continues, we'll tank ye in 2012

[western exile]

Congrats to Down, hope ye had another good evening after the match in the real heart of Ireland Disappointed to lose, but encouraged by reports from the game (I was away so couldn't make it), and at least it goes some way towards making up for the embarrasment of 2008. Ye'd want to be worried though. If this rate of improvement continues, we'll tank ye in 2012

We still have memories of a league division 2 final not so long ago 
Seriously though,  Offaly  should really take the league seriously next year and aim for promotion.  Div 2 is where it is at.  Those young players would really come on a lot if they were pitted against div 2 teams each week of the springtime.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Congrats to Down, hope ye had another good evening after the match in the real heart of Ireland Disappointed to lose, but encouraged by reports from the game (I was away so couldn't make it), and at least it goes some way towards making up for the embarrasment of 2008. Ye'd want to be worried though. If this rate of improvement continues, we'll tank ye in 2012

First the Rossies and now the Biffos, ye can all go and shite, the crest does not lie...