After looking to be in control of the game for most of the 70 minutes Offaly had to endure a nail biting two minutes of injury time before gaining a valuable two points at the expense of Roscommon in
Offaly dominated the early exchanges and led by 1-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes. The goal coming from a Niall McNamee penalty after Ciaran McManus had been fouled. A John Rogers goal brought Roscommon back into the game and by the 32nd minute the margin was down to the minimum 1-9 to 1-8. However, a John Reynolds goal and points by McNamee and Egan gave Offaly a cushion of a six point interval lead 2-11 to 1-8.
On the resumption scores were at a premium and Offaly looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory as they led by 2-14 to 1-11 with four minutes left. However, a defensive error saw Offaly concede a suicide type goal and when two Roscommon points quickly followed, a draw looked a distinct possibility. But Roscommon’s last effort was wide of the mark and Offaly held on.
Scorers;
Offaly Niall McNamee 1-8 (1-0 penalty, 0-3f), John Reynolds 1-2, David Egan 0-3, Sean Ryan 0-1
Roscommon: Donal Shine 0-6 (0-5f, 0-1 45’), John Rogers 1-1, Cathal Cregg 1-0, James Connaughton 0-2, David O’Gara 0-2, Kevin Higgins 0-1, Ger Heneghan 0-1
Offaly: Alan Mulhall, Ciaran Kiely, Shane Sullivan, Brian Darby, Conor Carroll, Richie Dalton, Stephen Lonergan, John Coughlan, Ciaran McManus, Alan Lynam, Scott Brady, Sean Ryan, David Egan, John Reynolds, Niall McNamee Subs: Peter Smart for Egan, Pauric Sullivan for Ryan, Ross Brady for Scott Brady
Roscommon: Geoffrey Claffey, Sean McDermott, Michael Killelea, Stephen Ormsby, Peter Domican, Cathal Cregg, Ian Kilbride, Michael Finneran, James Connaughton, Ger Heneghan, John Rogers, Donal Shine, David O’Gara
