Offaly 2-12 Louth 2-10Offaly presented their new manager Paul O'Kelly with a winning start to their National League campaign when they had two points to spare over home side Louth in a tightly-contested match at the Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda, yesterday.

Louth, however, will be frustrated by a poor first half, the concession of two soft second-half goals and their failure to take chances in the final moments which might have earned them a draw or even victory.

Offaly, having played with a strong wind in the first half, led 0-8 to 0-2 at the break, with Colm Quinn and Pascal Kellaghan both scoring three points from placed balls.

Louth made half-time changes and tightened their defence and when JP Rooney found the net with a powerful shot after 49 minutes the home side only trailed by a single point, 0-10 to 1-6, with still over 20 minutes to play.

However, just a minute later Offaly scored a goal when Louth's goalkeeper, Stuart Reynolds, fumbled to allow John Kenny punch to the net.

Kenny again punched to the Louth net with 15 minutes remaining to extend Offaly's lead to six points, 2-10 to 1-7.

Midfielder Ciarán McManus stretched that lead to seven points three minutes later and while a Mark Stanfield point and goal reduced the deficit to just three points, McManus kicked his third point of the half to give his side a four-point cushion.

That McManus point a minute from the end of normal time was Offaly's final score of the game, but Louth still had plenty of time and opportunities to rescue the result with over four minutes of injury time played.

Stanfield and Christy Gimes added points, but other chances from Stanfield and a good Rooney goal chance were not taken in a disappointing display from the home team.

OFFALY: C McNamara; J Hurst, C Daly, B Mooney; N Coughlan, G Rafferty, K Slattery (0-1); C McManus (0-3, 3 frees), A McNamara; C Quinn (0-3, 3 frees), J Kenny (2-0), P Mulhare; P Kellaghan (0-4, 4 frees), R Malone, B Malone (0-1). Subs: C Evans for P Mulhare 60 mins, J Reynolds for B Malone 69 mins.

LOUTH: S Reynolds; A Page, A Hoey, B Clarke; S Gerrard (0-1), C Goss, J Clerkin; S O'Hanlon, M Farrelly (0-1); P Keenan, C Grimes (0-2, 1 free), J Neary; O McDonnell, M Stanfield (1-5, 3 frees, 1 45'), J P Rooney (1-1). Subs: D Brennan for B Clarke half-time, P McGinnity for C Goss half-time, D Reilly for P Keenan 60 mins, D Reid for J Neary 63 mins.

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)