Joe McDonagh Cup

Offaly 2-22 Kildare 3-11

By Kevin Corrigan at Manguard Plus Kildare GAA Centre, Hawkfield

Offaly took a giant step towards the Joe McDonagh Cup final when they cruised to an easy win over Kildare in Hawkfield on Sunday afternoon.

With victories over Laois and Kildare under their belt and Down at home next Saturday, Offaly are moving very nicely and with a margin of error, they very much have their fate in their own hands.

This was another impressive, convincing display by Offaly. Kildare's Mark Delaney was sent off by referee Michael Kennedy after his attention was called by an umpire.

Kildare were 0-5 to 0-3 behind at that stage and just about hanging onto Offaly's coat tails. After receiving a surprisingly heavy beating by Carlow the previous week, Offaly punished them ruthlessly.

They went on a spree, scoring 1-7 without reply. The goal came from Cillian Kiely in the 16th minute and a 1-12 to 0-3 lead meant that this game was over as a contest after just 25 minutes.

Kildare did get in for two goals before the interval. James Burke scored in the 26th minute and Cian Boran got one in the 35th minute, but Offaly held a 1-18 to 2-6 interval lead left Kildare needing something extraordinary in the second half.

It was never going to happen with Eoghan Cahill's very well taken 47th minute goal putting Offaly 2-19 to 2-7 ahead. Cahill added a quick point and after this Offaly slipped back into third gear, not playing with the same ruthless intent.

Kildare got three points in a row but Cillian Kiely's 56th minute point ended that run. It was all very academic from here in. Kildare got an injury time consolation goal from a penalty by goalkeeper Paddy McKenna while Cillian Kiely was wide with a great lay chance for Offaly, but both sides knew the outcome here well before the final whistle.

Scorers for Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 1-10 (6fs, 1 '65'), Cillian Kiely 1-3, Adrian Cleary 0-3, Killian Sampson 0-2, Joey Keenaghan, Brian Duignan, Charlie Mitchell and Cathal Kiely 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: Paddy McKenna 1-5 (1-0 pen, 4fs and 1 '65'), James Burke and Cian Boran 1-1 each, Paul Dolan, Brian Byrne, Paul Divilly and Drew Costello 0-1 each.

Offaly: Stephen Corcoran; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, David King; Jack Screeney, Jason Sampson, Killian Sampson; Cillian Kiely, Joey Keenaghan; Adrian Cleary, Jack Clancy, Eoghan Cahill; David Nally, Brian Duignan, Charlie Mitchell.

Subs: Paddy Clancy for Keenaghan (40m), Cathal Kiely for Mitchell (53m), Paddy Delaney for Jack Clancy (63m), John Murphy for Duignan (63m).

Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Niall O'Muineachain, Simon Leacy, Cian Shanahan; Jack Travers, Rian Boran, Paul Dolan; Johnny Byrne, Cathal McCabe; James Burke, Gerry Keegan, Mark Delaney; Brian Byrne, Cian Boran, Cathal Dowling.

Subs: Paul Divilly for Dowling (7m), David Qualter for Dolan (HT), John McKeown for O'Muineachain (46m), Sean Christiansen for Divilly (51m), Drew Costello for Travers (54m).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).