February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
After the fireworks provided by both of these teams in recent weeks, a high-scoring match was expected for this Senior Football B decider at Gaelic Park on Sunday. Instead, with the stakes raised and the defensive efforts intensified, scores proved hard to come by.
With the stands filled on the crisp autumn-like afternoon, the two teams struggled to find the target in the early going, trading several wides before Offaly midfielder Jason Kelly opened the scoring with a rarity, a pointed 50.
With the scoring hex broken, Mayo got in on the act with a wonderful effort from center back Dermot Costello. Mayo lined out Charlie Harrison on Offaly dangerman James Coughlan and it turned out to be a great battle. Coughlan and Mayo midfielder Alan O’Hara traded points before Offaly lost the unlucky Danny Leavy to an ankle injury.
Leavy’s replacement, Adrian Bryan, immediately made his presence felt with a good point. Offaly then got a break when the ball was boxed out of keeper John McGinley’s hands for what looked like a Mayo goal. For the first, but not last, time on this day, referee John Fitzpatrick waved off the goal.
Offaly were just slightly on top and managed to get to the interval leading by 0-6 to 0-5. Thirty-five minutes and the championship was still up for grabs. After a delay while Mayo questioned a couple of Offaly players’ paperwork, the game resumed.
Three Offaly wides set the tone, and would come back to haunt the Faithful. Coughlan was fouled and converted after five minutes. Then Mayo earned a penalty. Ronan Garvey, who is as good a passer of a ball as you will see, hit Tony McTigue with a perfect long-range pass. McTigue was dragged down but McGinley saved well from Robert Moran.
Scores remained scarce, but Offaly thought they had a big one when Shane Cunningham rose high to fist to the Mayo net. But referee Fitzpatrick consulted with his umpires and waved off the 3-pointer, saying Cunningham was in the square.
Mayo began to put pressure on the Offaly backs, but some great defensive work, particularly from wing back John Fitzpatrick, allowed Offaly to cling to their 0-7 to 0-5 lead.
Mayo full forward Paddy Reddington abandoned his post to play a third midfielder role and his 25th-minute point provided Mayo with some life. Offaly wing forward Tommy Quaid earned a free, which Coughlan pointed for a much-needed score. But Mayo went on to score the last four points of the match.
First Moran and then Garvey pointed, with Reddington instrumental in both scores, and it was level at 0-8. Offaly were denied a point by the woodwork when Adrian Bryan’s shot deflected wide. With only 3 minutes left, Moran gave Mayo their first lead of the match with a tremendous free from 55 yards. Karl Oaks tacked on a Mayo insurance point as Offaly stormed back sending everyone but the keeper forward in a last, desperate effort.
It seemed to have paid off when substitute Bobby Roger’s fisted effort found its way into the net. But wait. Once again the referee called a square ball. Offaly vehemently disagreed, but to no avail. So it was no goal.
There was one last moment of tension when Offaly fullback Sean Nolan earned a free with seconds to play. Jason Kelly fired hard and low into a sea of Mayo jerseys and for a second it looked like it might be in. Then Mayo keeper Kieran Naughton emerged from the pile of humanity with the football and Mayo secured the Denis P. McHugh Memorial Cup and a hard fought SFB title.
Man of the Match: Dermot Costello
Mayo: Kieran Naughton, Brian Montgomery, Keith McMahon, Charlie Harrison, Eammon McEvoy, Dermot Costello (0-1), E. Cooney, Dave Colleran, Alan O’Hara (0-1), Karl Oaks (0-1), Robert Moran (0-4), Ronan Garvey (0-2), Tony McTigue, Peadar Reddington (0-1), Tommy Griffin.
Offaly: John McGinley, Brian Delaney, Sean Nolan, Mark Dolan, Darren Kavanagh, Liam Kelly, John Fitzpatrick, Jason Kelly (0-2, 1 50), Shane Cunningham, Tommy Quaid, Michael Dolan, Nigel Carney (0-1), Carl Kelly, Danny Leavy, James Coughlan (0-4, 3 frees). Subs: Robert Rogers, Adrian Bryan (0-1).