NFL DIVISION THREE: Offaly1-12 Cavan 0-8:A FINE debut from Bernard Allen helped Offaly get off to a winning start in Tullamore yesterday.

The Tubber man was on fire as he showed for everything, produced some delightful touches and kicked a decisive 1-4 to ensure a reasonably comfortable afternoon for the home side.

It was a fine win for Offaly, but they mixed the good and the bad, with the bad coming in the opening 20 minutes.

Offaly kicked nine wides in the first half and this allowed Cavan to stay in the hunt at half-time, though the home side’s 0-7 to 0-2 lead still left them with a lot of work to do. Cavan kicked the first two points, from Michael Brennan and Brendan Fitzpatrick, but Offaly began to find their range and three points from Ciarán McManus, two from Allen and one each from David Egan and Anton Sullivan saw them leading by five points at the break.

A Niall McNamee free extended Offaly’s lead to six points after the resumption before Cavan rallied with three points from Seán Johnston, Mark KcKeever and Ronan Flanagan. However, points from Allen and John Reynolds and a tap home goal from Allen put Offaly out of Cavan’s reach.

OFFALY:A Mulhall; B Darby, S Brady, S Pender; K Slattery, J Quinn, S Lonergan; R Dalton, J Coughlan; G Guilfoyle, D Egan (0-1), C McManus (0-4, three frees); B Allen (1-4, two frees), A Sullivan (0-1), N McNamee (0-1, free). Subs: J Reynolds (0-1) for Egan (half-time); N Darby for Quinn (45); J Keane for Slattery (55); K Casey for McNamee (56); S Ryan for Guilfoyle (66).

CAVAN:J Reilly; P Cahill, E Smith, S Jordan; D ODowd, A Clarke, D OReilly; E McGuigan, P OReilly; K Fannin, A OReilly, R Flanagan (0-1, free); S Johnston (0-2, one free), M Brennan (0-1, 45), B Fitzpatrick (0-1). Subs: M Cahill for Smith (22); J McCutcheon for Cahill, M McKeever (0-1) for A OReilly (both half-time); G Pierson (0-2) for Brennan (59); R Cullivan for Fitzpatrick (53).

Referee:E Kinsella (Laois).