HOW MANY times this summer will we see an intercounty manager standing outside his team's dressingroom and giving a cheerful shrug as he notes that it's all great craic."
Tommy Lyons's face had hardly a crease on it as he stood in the Tullamore drizzle and digested the implications of a 19 point victory for his side. Just yards away Eamonn Coleman was standing among his eviscerated Longford players and claiming this was the last beating he was going to take.
Longford introduced five debutants to championship football yesterday and lessons don't come much harsher. Many of Longford's players were just blown away by a fit and muscular Offaly side who seldom let the intensity of their effort dip.
Offaly's spectacularly gifted young midfielder Ciaran McManus turned in a fine performance and was matched, at least by the energetic Ronan Mooney. Yesterday everything which was worthwhile sprang from the prowess of this midfield. At least half a dozen scores came from Longford kick outs which were won cleanly and returned with punitive damages attached.
Having scored the opening point of the game, Longford managed to stay in touch for about 10 minutes and managed to construct a few neat handpassing movements. A pattern was emerging, however. Peter Brady scored a free after eight minutes. Ronan Mooney caught the kick out and fed Anthony Kelly for their second point.
Such vulnerability was bound to prove costly, and from the 13th minute, when Peter Brady slotted over Offaly's fourth score of the game till the 32nd minute when Anthony Kelly again punished some careless passing, Longford paid the price. During that period Offaly scored 1-8 without reply and virtually imprisoned Longford in their own half of the field. By the 30th minute Offaly's dominance was such that all six of their forwards had scored from play.
Offaly's first half goal neatly illustrated their strength. A move comprised of swift passes took Longford apart down their right flank. Vinny Claffey flicked the ball back into Colm Quinn's path, reversing the thrust of the play. Quinn stretched the net from eight yards with scarcely a Longford defender moving.
Through all this the centre of Offaly's defence was virtually impregnable. Finbarr Cullen's huge contribution from centre back was underlined by his two second half points.
If Longford had a chance of redemption they squandered it. Having clawed back two points late in the half through Dessie Barry and Eugene McCormack they won a penalty kick when Sheridan was pole axed as he contested a dropping ball in the Offaly square. Enda Barden struck the penalty soft and low. Padraig Kelly scrambled it out for a 45.
Offaly ran in three goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half. Another judicious Claffey handpass created the second goal, his flick finding Roy Malone who consummated the move. Anthony Kelly and McManus (a clever, shuffling, penalty) finished the game off.
Vinny Claffey's last act before being withdrawn in the closing stages exposed Longford's frailties yet again. Goalkeeper Gavin Tonra attempted a short kick oiit to an inattentive colleague, Claffey intercepted and ran the ball into the net.
