Offaly battle first minute red card to wear down Westmeath and keep fate in own hands

OFFALY'S worse nightmare looked to be unfolding in front of their eyes when captain Jason Sampson received a red card after just twenty seconds of their must win Joe McDonagh Cup game in O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon and they did extremely well to get the win from there.

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Joe McDonagh Cup Round 2

Offaly 2-23

Westmeath 1-20

Samspon saw red when Aonghus Clarke went down and it was a huge call that early in the game. If Sampson did give a dig, then he had no complaints but Offaly will be examing the footage to see if he has a case for getting his red reascinded ahead of next week's game in Meath – Sampson is in no way a dirty player but either way, it was the first salvo of an extraordinary start to the game.

In a drama, incident packed opening seven minutes, Offaly converted and missed a penalty but they showed great character to dig deep when those searching questions were asked and there was no disputing their superiority in the second half.

It was a hugely important win for Offaly after losing their first round to Laois and it means that their fate is very much in their own hands. If they win their remaining games, they will be in the final while Westmeath have now suffered two devastating defeats and are now dependant on other results to survive.

The numerical balance was levelled up in the 21^st minute when Westmeath wing back, Darragh Egerton saw red after picking up a yellow card to go with his earlier black. Whatever about Samspson, Egerton certainly had no complaints as he also could have got a black for Offaly's first penalty after hauling down David Nally as he raced through on goal.

Duignan's low drive found the net with that penalty to give Offaly a 1-1 to 0-1 lead in the second minute. David O'Reilly broke through for a well taken Westmeath goal to level it up at 1-2 each after five minutes and spectators barely had time to catch their breath.

Duignan was fouled for the second penalty in the seventh minute but his drive was well saved by Noel Conaty with the Durrow man pointing the '65' to level it up at 1-3 each. Eimhin Kelly had a half goal chance saved by Conaty in the 12^th minute and there was almost nothing separating the sides in a thrilling first half.

Westmeath led by 1-7 to 1-5 after 19 minutes but Egerton's dismissal for a rash pull took the momentum out of them. Offaly got three in a row to lead by 1-9 to 1-7 after 25 minutes and they were 1-10 to 1-8 ahead after 28 minutes. Westmeath got a run of three frees in a row from Killian Doyle to lead coming up to the break before Brian Duignan's point sent them in on level terms, 1-11 each at half time.

With the wind on their backs in the second half, Offaly were the better side and their superiority became more pronounced late on. Doyle had put Westmeath ahead straight after the restart but Offaly hit a rich vein of form with four on the trot, two Duignan frees, a Charlie Mitchell point and a super Cillian Kiely score from distance to put them 1-15 to 1-12 ahead after 43 minutes.

Westmeath were sucking for air but hung in grimly. Their big problem in the second half was that they were way too reliant on Killian Doyle for scores. They were still three points behind, 1-19 to 1-16 after 61 minutes and they did very well to get back into it from here. Their first seven points in the second half were all from Doyle, three of them from play. When another player finally scored, it was an important one as David O'Reilly's 65^th minute strike levelled it up at 1-19 each.

Offaly finished superbly, winning a lot of turnovers and showing great desire. Brian Duignan had missed an easy free to put Offaly four in front when they were 1-18 to 1-15 ahead but converted a 67^th minute free to put them in front. Cillian Kiely added another excellent point and the clinching goal arrived in the 69^th minute. Killian Samspon made a great catch and fed hard working sub, Oisin Kelly who got the ball across to Dan Bourke and the Durrow man had the space to tap to the net for a 2-21 to 1-19 lead.

A Duignan free and Leon Fox point had Offaly 2-23 to 1-20 ahead in injury time, leaving Westmeath needing two goals to rescue a draw. Killian Doyle had a couple of 21 metre frees and went for goals from these but Cillian Kiely and Mark Troy made the saves as Offaly recorded a very satisfying and crucial win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ben Conneely (Offaly): There is a strong case to be made for Cillian Kiely who was close to his very best here as he lorded the centre in the Offaly defence, won all types of ball, turned over ball and got three crucial points, two of them from way out. Ben Conneely gets the nod on this occasion for a near flawless display in the Offaly defence. The St Rynagh's man did the simple things so well, sticking the hurl in, getting in shoulders and hits, flicking the ball away and generally finding a man with his clearances. A lot of his work was of the “unseen” variety but he scarcely put a foot wrong all afternoon.

Brian Duignan was also a live contender as he was very much the main man in an attack where Adam Screeney was ruled out through an injury that will worry supporters ahead of the Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship quarter-final: forwards Dan Ravenhill, another very important U-20 player, and Eoghan Cahill were also out injured here. Duignan missed a couple of chances but top scored with 1-11, 0-2 from play, and his work rate was exceptional.

Cathal King and Killian Sampson also went well while Charlie Mitchell and Eimhin Kelly had very good spells in the attack.

For Westmeath, Killian Doyle was their best player while sub Peter Clarke was excellent after coming on, cutting out a lot of ball in their defence.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Brian Duignan 1-11 (goal from a penalty, 8f and 1 '65'), Dan Bourke 1-0, Cillian Kiely 0-3, Killian Sampson, Charlie Mitchell and Eimhin Kelly 0-2 each, Cathal King, Ben Conneely, Leon Fox 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Killian Doyle 0-15 (11f and 1 '65'), David O'Reilly 1-1, Robbie Greville, Eoin Keyes, David Williams and Davy Glennon 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown), Ciaran Burke (Durrow), Padraig Cantwell (Shamrocks); Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s) Cillian Kiely (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Sam Bourke (Durrow); Jason Sampson (Shinrone), David King (Coolderry); Killian Samspon (Shinrone), Brian Duignan (Durrow), David Nally (Belmont); Dan Bourke (Durrow), Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh). Subs - Jack Clancy (Belmont) for Sam Bourke (34m), Donal Shirley (Tubber) for Cantwell (HT), Oisin Kelly (Belmont) for Nally, inj. (56m), Leon Fox (Belmont) for Clancy (65m),

WESTMEATH: Noel Conaty; Aaron Craig, Tommy Doyle, Kevin Regan; Darragh Egerton, Aonghus Clarke, Robbie Greville; Cormac Boyle, Charlie McCormack; Joseph Boyle, Killian Doyle, David O'Reilly; Niall Mitchell, Eoin Keyes, David Williams. Subs – Peter Clarke for Greville (19m), Conor Gaffney for McCormack (HT), Owen McCabe for Keyes (51m), Davy Glennon for Boyle (54m), Ciaran Doyle for Williams (65m),

Referee – Brian Keon (Galway).

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Keon ended up a pivotal figure but that doesn't mean he had a bad game. Jason Sampson's red card came remarkably early and he could have got the benefit of the doubt but he did leave himself open for the ultimate sanction as his hurl did appear to go back. Darragh Egerton certainly deserved his two cards and could have got a black for the first penalty. There was a lot going on in the game but Keon kept a tight grip on it and had a decent game overall, though he gave one very harsh free against Charlie Mitchell in the second half and a couple more won the displeasure of the home support.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Dan Bourke's 69^th minute goal gave Offaly a 2-22 to 1-19 lead and meant that points were no good to Westmeath in the six minutes of injury time.

Darragh Egerton's dismissal was also a key moment and it might have been a very different game if Westmeath had an extra man throughout the second half – his departure was a great help to Offaly.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch looked the best it did all year – there was a smaller than expected crowd here, with both sides' first round defeats a factor in this.

WHAT'S NEXT

Offaly are away to Meath next Sunday while Westmeath make the long journey to Down.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 8 (3 in first half); Westmeath – 11 (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 2 (Cillian Kiely, Killian Sampson); Westmeath – 4 (Darragh Egerton, Aonghus Clarke, Owen McCabe, Kevin Regan).

Black cards: Offaly – 0; Westmeath – 1 (Darragh Eggerton);

Red cards: Offaly – 1 (Jason Samspon); Westmeath – 1 (Darragh Egerton, black and yellow).