Allianz League
Division 3
Venue – Pairc Esler
Down 2-12 Offaly 0-10
Report by Sean Forsythe
Down capitalised on Louth’s defeat to go top of Division 3 with a professional and accomplished performance against Offaly.
In a game where they were rarely threatened, Down were the victors by 8 points which could have been even more in a game where they were rarely challenged.
Down were ahead from the start and got the first score of the game in the third minute with a Darren O’Hagan point from play.
Offaly responded 2 minutes later when a Free conceded by Ryan McAleenan was converted by Bernard Allen from 21 yards out.
It did not take long for Down to regain the advantage as four minutes later Jerome Johnston swung a shot with his left boot straight between the posts from 40 yards out.
The lead was then extended with a point from a Mooney who capitalised on an Offaly error to make 3 to 1.
Offaly responded in fine fashion and three points in a row put them a point to the good with 21 minutes played.
With momentum beginning to swing in Offaly’s favour, Donal O’Hare brought the scores level once again as he sold the Offaly defender with a dummy creating time for a shot which struck the black spot of the crossbar and went over.
Goalkeeper Rory Burns then gave Down the advantage once again as he converted a 45 to make it 5-4 with 10 minutes of the first half still to play.
Down made their first change of the evening soon after as Johnny Flynn was replaced by Mayobridge man Cory Quinn who would have a huge impact in the second half.
At half-time the scores stood at 0-08 to 0-06 thanks to points from McKernan, Mooney and O’Hare for Down with Down very much controlling the match.
Offaly were the first to get on the board in the second half as a free for Offaly was brought up by the referee which made it very scorable from twenty yards out to reduce the deficit to 0-08 to 0-07.
Back to Back scores for Down though from Donal O’Hare extended the lead for the Mournemen once again with ten minutes gone in the second half.
After 17 minutes of the second half came the turning point of the game. A wheel worked move from Down resulted in a goal for first half substitute Cory Quinn to see off the challenge of Offaly with six points between the sides with less than 20 minutes to go.
Once Down got the goal they never looked back as the closest Offaly got in the closing stages was within five points of Down.
Down kept attacking as the game drew to a close and this effort was rewarded as Caolan Mooney set up Cory Quinn in injury time who fired a shot into the roof of the net for the closing score for the game.
The game finished 2-12 to 0-10 with Donal O’Hare and Cory Quinn being the joint top scorers in the game for Down thanks to two goals for Quinn and six points for O’Hare.
Down had standout performers across the pitch in their victory but recognition has to be given to Flanagan, O’Hagan, McKernan, O’Hare and Jerome Johnston for their individual performances.
The win is Down’s fourth in a row and puts them in a strong position as they now sit two points clear at the top of the league with just two games left to play.
