IF Offaly's general display lingered somewhere between second and third gears, their defence and, especially goalkeeper Liam Coughlan, had to shift into overdrive at times to avoid the ultimate in embarrassment. . It proved an unexpectedly riveting Leinster senior hurling championship quarter final at Croke Park yesterday.
A tirelessly energetic Meath team, hungry for the big hurling breakthrough, produced a performance of first rate courage and skill that Offaly were sometimes seen to take a little too lightly for comfort by their mentors in the dugout.
The start was desperately discouraging for the Meathmen. Joe Errity nonchalantly collected a delivery by wing back Kevin Martin and left Meath full back Martin Smith for dead. Even though Errity momentarily lost possession he was still able to career forward to bury the ball in the Meath net.
In terms of starts, Meath's worst fears had been realised. Nonetheless they proceeded to compete as though nothing had happened. Even when Johnny Pilkington, from halfway, and John Troy with two well sniped points stretched the lead to 1-3 without reply by the 10th minute, Meath remained game.
The challengers were fully committed but David Martin, Phil Cahill and Willie Donnelly had somehow failed to reap reward with good scoring chances.
The first Meath score, a point by midfielder Declan Murray, came after 22 minutes when Offaly had put 1-6 on the board.
Then in the 31st minute Benny Murray got a timely flick ahead to find David Martin inside the Offaly cover and Meath's top scorer kicked the ball to the net to leave only five points between the teams. That deficit was reduced to four by half time - 1-8 to 1-4.
Martin, from a 70 yards free, got the deficit down to three points within minutes of the restart. Suddenly the Offaly goal came under siege. Martin was short with a well intended shot which Phil Cahill collected but fortunately for Liam Coughlan the full forward did not get hold of the drive and the danger was averted.
Instead of reaping two goals, for all that probing, Meath had to be satisfied with a point by Benny Murray.
Offaly substitute Declan Pilkington quickly stamped out any encouragement Meath could have derived from that point when slamming home a fine goal at the other end. Johnny Dooley and his brother Joe helped stretch Offaly's advantage to eight points. However, Meath's superb wing forward Michael Cole immediately whipped in a fine goal to remind Offaly that the battle was not won, just yet.
