Erin's Isle live dangerously

If relations between the two counties, Dublin and Offaly, have been a little strained this year, at least supporters of both camps left Parnell Park yesterday displaying similar body language. While the headshaking of the Erin's Isle contingent betrayed emotions of a close shave in a game that was always theirs for the taking, Edenderry's travelling army were probably wondering why their team had left the best wine till last - and too late.

Edenderry were justifiably trailing by seven points with 10 minutes remaining in this AIB Leinster Club senior football championship quarter-final. However, by the time referee Seamus Smith got around to blowing his whistle for the last time, the gap had closed to such an extent that his final gesture was greeted with much jumping and hugging among the Erin's Isle entourage.

The "what if?" question hung in the air. Seven days after Finbarr Cullen had his dentition rearranged on the same pitch, thus depriving him of a playing presence yesterday, what if he'd been able to play? And what if Edenderry could have afforded the luxury of having Peter Brady closer to goal, rather than leading and cajoling from midfield? Even that far outfield he still mustered a personal contribution of seven points.

Yet, the writing had seemed to be on the wall for Edenderry inside the opening three minutes. By that time, Ciaran O'Hare - unquestionably Isle's best forward - had scored a goal, Niall Crosson had blasted wide when it looked easier to score, and Edenderry's Shane Bagnall had been sent to the line for landing a couple of prize punches on Crossan's teenage head.

The directness of O'Hare's goal was in stark contrast to the manner of the Dublin side's procrastination when handed the numerical superiority with Bagnall's dismissal. Charlie Redmond's free was flicked on by Eddie Barr to O'Hare. He sold a dummy, settled himself and, 33 seconds after the throw-in, crashed the ball to the net before a good part of the crowd, including the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, had even found their seats.

But such directness vanished for the most part after that, and Isle demonstrated a tendency to overplay the ball in the build-up. Indeed, their over elaboration gave Edenderry confidence and, possession wise, the visitors had just as much of the ball. In fact, it took a couple of pointed frees from O'Hare's trusty left foot in the runup to half-time to ensure the Dubliners had a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Generally, though, the football in that first-half was poor and scrappy. Most wonderment centred around Isle's hesitancy to get the ball in to their full-forwards as quickly and as frequently as possible. When such a route was taken, it inevitably led to scores: the O'Hare-Robbie BoyleCrosson triumvirate actually accounted for all but a point of their side's eventual tally.

Operating at midfield, the Barr brothers, Keith and Johnny, set up Boyle and Padraig Cunningham for quick points on the restart, but, ironically, it was only after Erin's Isle too were reduced to 14 men - when J J O'Keefe was dismissed for a head-on challenge on Declan Flynn in the 36th minute - that they produced their best football of the game.

Fittingly, O'Hare provided the highlight of this purple patch, which saw the Finglasmen move into a 110 to 0-6 lead, and seemingly out of reach, by proving he can kick with his right foot, too. The schoolteacher gathered the ball near the Craobh Chiarain touchline, gave a shimmy, and then floated the ball over the bar.

Ironically, it was another action from O'Hare which sparked Edenderry's fightback. O'Hare's thundering shot in the 53rd minute crashed back off the crossbar and Edenderry moved back upfield, where Brady took a point. That score narrowed the gap to six points, and hinted more of a consolation score than anything else. But new life had been breathed into the Offalymen and, as Erin's Isle failed to register another score, Edenderry couldn't stop scoring.

John Mason, Declan Farell and Brady (twice) added further points. And one of those Brady points - fired over from little more than five yards - could just as easily have been a goal. It wasn't, though, and if Tom Quinn's weak kick-outs placed his team-mates under enormous pressure in those closing minutes, they still managed to survive and move into the provincial semi-final stage after a closer call than appeared likely for much of the match.

Erin's Isle: T Quinn; K Murray, JJ O'Keeffe, M Naughton; D Collins, M Deegan, G O'Connell; K Barr, J Barr; C Redmond, P Cunningham (0-1), E Barr; C O'Hare (1-5, three frees, one 45), R Boyle (0-2), N Crosson (0-2).

Edenderry: D Seery; G Blong, A Murphy, W Mooney; J Hurst, D Farrelly, S Bagnall; P Brady (0- 7, four frees), N Mooney; C Farrell (0-1), C O'Connell, B Malone (0-1); D Flynn, D Farrell (0- 1, free), N Comerford. Sub: J Mason (0-1) for N Mooney (37 mins).

Referee - S Smith (Meath).