Tailteann Cup: London stun Offaly
London senior football team manager Michael Maher. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup Group Four
London 2-20 Offaly 0-12
By Ciaran Burns at Glenisk O'Connor Park
Led by the magnificent Ciarán Diver, London caused a sensational upset against Offaly on their own patch on Saturday afternoon, giving the 2024 Tailteann Cup an explosive start as they picked up their first championship win in 11 years.
While London now carry huge momentum into the next round and a giant-killing tilt against Down, Offaly are left with many questions as to what went wrong.
Both teams started relatively brightly and after 20 minutes the game was 0-4 apiece, with Offaly’s Ian Duffy, Cathal Donoghue, Dylan Hyland and Jack Bryant all on target. For London, it was a flying start for Ciarán Diver, who managed three from play in quick succession, while Ruairí Rafferty kept the visitors level.
As the half wore on, London’s impetus was clear. They did not visit Tullamore to enjoy the sunshine and scored three without reply through Diver, Stephen Dornan and Michael Carroll to put themselves well on the ascendancy.
London were ahead by two points at half-time as the score stood at 0-8 to 0-6. From the restart, they continued to stamp their authority on a game that Offaly never really got to grips with. Quick counters and clinical finishing saw Aidan McLoughlin and the impressive Shay Rafter pointed their side further in front. Rafter was a menace in the second half where he managed all four of his points.
Both teams traded points until the 51st minute when a mix up in the Offaly defence saw a loopy ball from Rafferty eventually knocked into the net by the fist of Dornan. Almost against the run of play, what appeared to be a lost attack turned into jubilation for London as they leaped further ahead. Now down by 1-13 to 0-9, Offaly looked like a sinking ship.
A rush of Offaly subs couldn’t plug the hole that gaped inside their own half. Again, taking advantage of top of the ground conditions London drove at Offaly with incredible diligence and drive from key middlemen McLoughlin, Dornan and Daniel Clarke. Clarke operated particularly well as London’s forward anchor.
In the 66th minute, London’s Diver clinically put away their second goal after a lovely, weighted pass in behind from Clarke. Offaly looked dejected and failed to register another score in the game.
Going from bad to worse, Offaly’s Dan Molloy was shown a straight red two minutes later. Offaly were stunned and had run out of ideas beyond kicking long balls into the square. London’s packed defence did their job and quashed any hopes of Offaly snatching a goal or two back.
Diver, Clarke and Liam Gallagher added London and the game’s final three scores, but Offaly were beaten long before this. London’s ecstasy at the final whistle was met with equal deflation from an Offaly perspective. Either way, London come out as well deserved winners and carry a spring in their step to Round Two.
Scorers for London: Ciarán Diver 1-5 (3fs), Stephen Dornan 1-1, Shay Rafter 0-4, Daniel Clarke, Ruairí Rafferty and Joshua Obahor 0-2 each, Michael Carroll, Aidan McLoughlin, Eoin Walsh and Liam Gallagher (1f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: Dylan Hyland 0-4 (2fs), Jack Bryant (1f) and Nigel Dunne (1f) 0-2 each, Cathal Donoghue, Peter Cunningham, Eoin Carroll (0-1 mark), and Ian Duffy (’45) 0-1 each.
London: Andrew Walsh; Eoin Walsh, Daire Rooney, Ciarán McKeon; Oran Kerr, Shay Rafter, Aidan McLoughlin; Stephen Dornan, Liam Gallagher; Michael Carroll, Daniel Clarke, Ciarán Diver; Joshua Obahor, Ruairí Rafferty, Fiontan Eastwood.
Subs: Michael Miller for O Kerr (58), Cahir Healy for A McLoughlin (60), Tighe Barry for C McKeon (64), DJ O’Flaherty for S Rafter (64) and Joseph McGill for R Rafferty (70+1).
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, John Furlong; Cormac Egan, Rory Egan, Peter Cunningham; Eoin Carroll, Cathal Donoghue; Dylan Hyland, Cathal Flynn, Jordan Hayes; Cian Farrell, Keith O’Neill, Jack Bryant.
Subs: Jack O’Brien for R Egan (43), Nigel Dunne for C Flynn (45), Ruairí McNamee for C Farrell (48), Nathan Poland for C Donoghue and Dan Molloy for D Dempsey (66).
Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary).
