Minor - Offaly 0-10 Westmeath 1-6

[Lone Shark]

Watching minor games is a funny thing – sometimes the result is far from the most important concern. You look for potential development where maybe the senior team is less than well served, or a good show from your clubman, or even just if this team contains the prodigy that we’ve all been waiting for since Matt Connor.

Feck that. This was Westmeath, and the important thing was to bring our lads (and theirs) up the right way – that we are and always will be better. So first and foremost, well done lads. To all of them, and in particular our own “minor”, fair play.

Regarding the game, this was a game where to be honest a single point winning margin didn’t really reflect the fact that Offaly were generally the better side. A combination of a few sloppy scores conceded, a reluctance to shoot up front and some mediocre long passing at times which were all of a poorer standard than this bunch of lads would expect combined to keep Westmeath in touch for longer than they deserved. The nerves inherent in trying to peg back a deficit was also inhibiting and prevented Offaly from playing with the freedom that we’d hope to see in future.

With all that said, this still is a side with great tenacity and spirit rather than remarkably talented. Meath in beating Kildare will have assumed the favourites mantle for this competition, and based on what they’ve produced so far, will take a lot of stopping. However with only one game between this side and an All Ireland quarter final, there’ll be no shortage of motivation. And we live in hope ….

Player by player:

Dean Bracken: Can’t be faulted. Made one good save in the first half, kickouts were decent, and couldn’t do anything about the goal.

Keith Higgins: Had his hands full with Connellan, and honours were shared between the two. Found it tough, but that was due to his strong opponent.

Diarmuid Horan: Seemed to struggle when brought out the field, in classic full back mode. Defended his line well, but whether through injury or otherwise, wasn’t as comfortable in space as you’d expect. Is better than he showed yesterday.

Jason Ryan: Did his job quite well, and was in general on top. Went about his business quietly, but still a very good performance.

John Knight: Didn’t really get involved with the ball as much as he could have, but again did his defensive duties well. Competent throughout.

Richie Dalton: Lack of pace was exposed a few times, and his huge an un-necessary wind up for a clearance led to a blockdown and the goal. A fine player and a good leader, but won’t be happy with yesterday’s performance.

Gerry Grehan: Tenacious, busy as hell, and let his marker have no room whatsoever. One mistake when his handpass was blocked down, leading to a point, but otherwise did very well.

David Kavanagh: Wasn’t up against any great fielders in the Westmeath side, but did played solidly throughout. Won a decent share of ball, and used it well. Marking Rory O’Connor the next day is a huge step up though. Literally, huge.

Ross Brady: I was all set to give him man of the match until he got a stupid red card at the end that will cost us big time against Meath. To be fair, I didn’t see what he did, but to get a straight red for an off the ball incident in injury time is stupid no matter what the provocation. What a free to win it though.

James Gorman: Wing forward was an odd place for him, and to be honest most of the game passed him by. Needs to be more central the next day.

Niall Darby: Hard not to feel sorry for him going for high ball against a direct opponent with I’d conservatively estimate to have eight inches on him in height. Good when he gets on the ball, and seriously fast but struggled to get the ball into his grasp from top of the diamond.

Alan Lynam: Was close to man of the match anyway, and gets it due to Brady’s act of madness. Put in a fantastic performance, taking two good points, and covering every single blade of grass on the field. Showed well, used it well and tracked back. Well done fella.

Rory Connor: Rarely got on the ball, and never threatened. Might struggle to hold his shirt over Willie Mulhall, his clubmate, the next day.

Padraig Duffy: Strong and mobile, took one good score and is a threat coming out to meet a ball. A key part of the overall team structure.

Ken Casey: By his own high standards, had an absolute nightmare. The four frees he got were straightforward, and for the amount of ball he got, one point from play was deplorable. Had the beating of his man, but overcarried repeatedly, and didn’t use the space he created nearly well enough. The only advantage is that he’ll have slipped under the radar of any watching Meath backroom members.

Gerry Treacy: Ended up being the free man very quickly when he was brought on, and I thought he did well. Positioned himself cleverly, and used the ball well. I still think there should be a place for him.

David Larkin: Not really on long enough to do anything.

Overall, it was great to win, but at the risk of seeming hugely pessimistic, on this display we’d be seven or eight points behind a Meath team that comfortably beat us in Walsh Island in the league and have just added the not inconsiderable threat of Shane O’Rourke to their full forward line. But at least evil has been vanquished. Anything from here is a bonus …..


Teams:
Offaly: Dean Bracken; Keith Higgins, Diarmuid Horan, Jason Ryan; John Knight, Richie Dalton, Gerry Grehan; David Kavanagh, Ross Brady (0-2, 2 frees); James Gorman, Niall Darby, Alan Lynam (0-2); Rory Connor, Padraig Duffy (0-1), Ken Casey (0-5, 4 frees).
Subs: Gerry Treacy for Jason Ryan, David Larkin for David Kavanagh.

Westmeath: Robbie Lynch; William Murtagh, Aaron Purcell, Darren Price; Andrew Whitney, Ciarán Gavin, Ronan Foley (0-1); Alan Gaughan (0-2, 1 sideline), James Durkan; AJ Murray, Keith Scally, Paul Kelly; Conrad Reilly (0-1), Rory O’Reilly, John Connellan (1-2, 0-2 frees).

Referee: S O’Shea (Wexford)

Clubs:

Dean Bracken, Alan Lynam – Erin Rovers
Keith Higgins, David Kavanagh – Tubber
Diarmuid Horan – St. Rynagh’s
Jason Ryan, John Knight, Padraig Duffy – Gracefield
Richie Dalton, Ross Brady – Edenderry
Gerry Grehan – Ferbane
James Gorman – Kilcormac/Killoughey
Niall Darby – Rhode
Rory Connor – Walsh Island
Ken Casey – St. Brigid’s
Ger Treacy – St. Vincent’s
David Larkin - Doon

[Percy Sledgehammer]

I don't care if he gets suspended for three months, Ross Brady is an F****** legend for that free kick. To see the anguish and pain on their Westmeath faces as they embark on a life of being second best to the Biffos was a joy to behold.

[The Biff]

I saw highlights of this match on Chorus' own channel last night. Brady's kick was a whopper. He started from outside the 65m line and kicked it from no more than a step inside, not allowing for any angle.

As he was looking at the posts, the commentator "assumed" along the lines: "... this might drop in towards the goal area ..." whereas we could see (with the benefit of hindsight) that Brady was taking aim at the posts. The camera didn't even capture the ball going over so I dont know by how much it cleared the crossbar.

Super kick, and a great way to win the game. Whatever he was sent off for was not shown either, but Wastemeath had at least 2 shots (1 was a free) after that and neither looked remotely like threatening the posts.