Sport

Fists fly as Offaly get past Carlow

Leinster Under 21 FC/ Offaly 0-13 Carlow 0-9: Tempers frayed midway through the second half in Tullamore yesterday as a 20-player…

Mon Feb 19 2007 - 00:00

Leinster Under 21 FC/ Offaly 0-13 Carlow 0-9:Tempers frayed midway through the second half in Tullamore yesterday as a 20-player melee was sparked by the dismissal of Carlow corner forward Glen Doyle on a straight red card for a foul on Paul McConway.

With six minutes of the hour remaining Doyle was followed to the dugout by Offaly's top scorer, Ken Casey, who had registered five points before being dismissed on a second yellow card.

Offaly have a poor record in recent years in the Leinster under-21 football championship, having won the last of their eight provincial titles in the grade in 1995, and there was little to suggest yesterday that situation would be redressed this year.

Nonetheless, when it was all over at O'Connor Park, Offaly had surmounted the first hurdle in the present campaign.

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While the host county included six of the side that triumphed in the previous week's National Football League opener between the two counties, the visitors had only Aidan and Brian Murphy on duty again.

Carlow made a promising start with points by Brian Murphy (free) and Frank Murphy before Seán Ryan opened Offaly's account and Casey landed an equaliser by pointing a 45.

A further exchange of points followed before Offaly took control, reeling off five points without reply before a Carlow point by Evan Doyle sent Offaly in at the break leading by double scores - 0-8 to 0-4.

The home side continued to call the tune when play resumed, but poor finishing saw their total of wides reach double digits. Nevertheless, they outscored their visitors by five points to two before Carlow produced a late flourish with points by Brendan and John Murphy and Keith Jackson.

OFFALY: D Bracken; G Grehan, R Dalton (0-1), E Byrne; S Lonergan, P McConway, J Keane; N Smith, C Mahon (0-1); N Darby, R Connor (0-2), S Ryan (0-3); K Casey (0-5, three frees, one 45), T Coughlan, G Hickey (0-1). Subs: A Lynam for Darby (39 mins), J Gorman for Hickey (49 mins).

CARLOW: D Kealy; S Farrell, S Mernagh, B Rooney; C Nolan, E Doyle, A Murphy; K Jackson (0-1), F Murphy (0-1); A Doran; J Murphy (0-1), Brian Murphy (0-4, frees); M Kelly, Brendan Murphy (0-1), G Doyle (0-1). Subs:D Molloy for Kelly (39 mins), C Rea for Farrell (53 mins).

Referee: J Curley(Meath).