Offaly 2-18 Wicklow 2-6

Pat Flanagan brought his all conquering Offaly team to Aughrim only too well aware of the reputation that venue has for bringing down front runners. Apart from the opening 10 to 15 minutes, the Offaly manager got very little to worry about in this match.

Wicklow did get off to a good start when DCU hero Conor McGraynor boxed home a John McGrath centre for the first goal of the match and then repeated it again in the 11th minute when Brendan McCrea and Seanie Furlong did the spade work.

Corner forward William Mulhall was picking off great points for Offaly and by the 23rd minute the sides were level. A Mulhall goal in the 21st minute sent Offaly in leading by 1-12 to 2-2 at half time.

Johnny McGee did try to rejig his Wicklow side, bringing on a few subs but it had little or no effect. Mulhall completed a man of the match performance with Offaly’s second goal in the 60th minute. A comprehensive win and a further boost to the risingconfidence of the Faithful County.

OFFALY: A Mulhall, D Brady, P McConway, J O'Connor, C Donohue (0-2), J. Maloney, N Darby (0-1), GGuilfoyle, N Smith, P Sullivan, N McNamee (0-2), N Bracken, B Allen (0-4, 0-1 free), N Dunne, W Mulhall (2-8, two frees). Subs: K Mullally for Sullivan (both 45 mins), B Darby (0-1) for Donoghue (45 mins), S Sullivan for Dunne (47 mins).
WICKLOW: R Lambert, P Higgins, M McLoughlin, A Byrne, D Healy, A. Murphy, P McWalter, A McLoughlin, R O'Brien, D. Hayden, J McGrath, D Woods (0-1), B McCrea (0-1), S Furlong , C McGraynor (2-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: M Kenny (0-1)for McGrath (20 mins), P Cronin for O'Brien (44 mins ), M Mangan for McWalter (45 mins), N Gaffney for Woods (h-t), T Kelly for Healy (58 mins), C Foley for McCrea (60 mins).
Referee: D. Maher (Westmeath)