Some rare silverware joy for Ulster and Leinster sides
Two down to to go. That’s the state of play after tonight’s opening Allianz League football finals saw wins for both Offaly and Armagh.
Offaly beat Longford in the Division Four decider by 4-16 to 1-12, while Kieran McGeeney’s side enjoyed a 0-16 to 0-11 win over Fermanagh in the Division Three contest.
The win was against the odds as the Orchard County were down a man since the 26th minute after Finnian Moriarty’s sending-off.
Despite the numerical advantage Fermanagh had to be thankful to their goalkeeper Thomas Tracey who pulled off two fine saves towards the end of the opening 35 minutes, which saw his side trail at the break by only 0-8 to 0-6.
Fermanagh closed the gap to 0-12 to 0-9 by the 45th minute but the victors managed to steady themselves and drove for home thanks to a vital score from the boot of Ciaron O’Hanlon.
Armagh-led by Jamie Clarke who was outstanding even if he did only score 0-2,never looked in any serious trouble afterwards and ran out five point winners.
In the Division Four final between Offaly and Longford the Faithful County proved much too strong for their neighbours with a 4-16 to 1-12 win-their first victory in Croke Park for nine years.
Offaly’s last win in Drumcondra was in a Leinster semi final in 2006, but went goal crazy after half time to secure a major confidence boost ahead of May 16th and the sides renewal in the championship.
At half time Offaly led by 1-7 to 0-6 as Nigel Dunne goaled after 23 minutes.
There was little to separate the sides until the game’s second goal came from Paul McConway, who ran the length of the pitch to score a wonderful goal that opened the game’s first significant gap between the sides.
Offaly piled on the scores and had increased their lead to nine, before substitute Shane Doyle goaled for Longford to make it 2-11 to 1-9 approaching the final quarter.
However Offaly moved up through the gears and goals from midfielder Graham Guilfoyle and the game’s top scorer William Mulhall who hit 1-5 over the course of the 70 minutes sealed the win
Both sides ended with 14 men as Offaly’s Anton O’Sullivan received his marching orders along with Diarmuid Masterson for an incident inside the last ten minutes
It's been a dark few years for @Offaly_GAA footballers but today marks the start of a bright future. Congrats to pat and everyone involved.
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) April 25, 2015
Job done. Thanks for all the Offaly support today.Great to see this man climb the steps. Now, Summer 💚💭💛 pic.twitter.com/JcdnSgappB
— Niall McNamee (@niallmc14) April 25, 2015
