NATIONAL LEAGUE/Offaly 2-14 Roscommon 2-13:A WELCOME return to form by Niall McNamee was instrumental in Offaly claiming two vital points when they edged out Roscommon in Tullamore yesterday.

McNamee had been below par in the opening two games but he struck for 1-8, five points from play, to ensure Offaly remained in the promotion hunt. For Roscommon, this defeat now means a desperate fight against relegation and, while they could have snatched a draw, they were fortunate to lose by only one point.

Offaly looked set to win convincingly when they led by 2-14 to 1-9 with just 10 minutes left and Roscommon had been so poor in the second half that it was impossible to envisage any way back for them.

However, they staged a dramatic late rally with a Cathal Cregg goal and four unanswered points reducing arrears to the minimum. They had a last-gasp chance to draw it but James Connaughton was wide when kicking under pressure.

It was a deserved win for Offaly who will have been encouraged by an impressive debut at midfield from former Dublin player John Coughlan. Niall McNamee’s early penalty goal was quickly cancelled out by John Rogers but Offaly led by 1-7 to 1-1 after 14 minutes.

Roscommon recovered well to cut the gap to a point with Donie Shine accurate from frees but Offaly hit another purple patch and a John Reynolds goal gave them a deserved interval lead of 2-11 to 1-8.

There was little to set the pulse racing in the opening 25 minutes of the second half as Offaly outscored the visitors by four points to one to stay in the driving seat. Roscommon, however, finished with all guns blazing and almost pulled the game out of the fire.

OFFALY: A Mulhall; C Kiely, S Sullivan, B Darby; C Carroll, R Dalton, S Lonergan; J Coughlan, C McManus; A Lynam, S Brady, S Ryan (0-1); D Egan (0-3), J Reynolds (1-2), N McNamee (1-8, 1-0 penalty, three frees). Subs: P Smart for Egan (60 mins), P Sullivan for Ryan (69 mins), R Brady for Brady (69 mins).

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S McDermott, M Killelea, S Ormbsy; P Domican, C Cregg (1-0), I Kilbride; M Finneran (0-1), M O’Carroll; S Purcell, J Connaughton (0-2), G Heneghan (0-1); J Rogers (1-1), D Shine (0-6, five frees and one 45), D O’Gara (0-1). Subs: K Higgins for Kilbride (h/t), E Kenny (0-1) for Purcell (42 mins), D Casey for Killelea (52 mins), D Hussey for Heneghan (54 mins).

Referee: G McCormack (Dublin).