All-Ireland SFCQualifier/Offaly ... 1-12 Clare ... 1-08: As expected, Offaly made it through to the next round of the All-Ireland qualifier system, when they had four points to spare over Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Saturday.
In front of only about 1,500 spectators, the Faithful County had to play with 14 men for almost the entire second half, after centre-half back Finbar Cullen was dismissed for a second offence when he tripped Clare's Mark O'Connell moments after the restart.
In spite of this handicap, the dismissal appeared to galvanise a spirited Offaly team who had been troubled by Clare early on but were settled by a goal shortly before half-time when Niall McNamee got on the end of a good Colm Quinn cross.
Offaly full back Ger Rafferty threatened to buckle under pressure from Clare full forward Odran O'Dwyer in the opening stages, but after 15 minutes and the concession of two scores to the Clareman, Offaly manager Paul O'Kelly replaced Rafferty with substitute Conor Evans, a clever tactical move that would ultimately have an effect on the outcome.
However, as it turned out, another positional switch, this time in the 22nd minute, probably had even more telling consequences. Dual player Neville Coughlan moved to centre-half forward from the corner.
The athleticism and ball-winning efforts of the Offaly man around the 40 mark proved to be the platform on which the winners built this victory.
He contributed three memorable points and won numerous breaking balls, several of which led to vital scores.
Clare prevailed by six points to three on 20 minutes, but a reshuffled Offaly pack fought back and levelled matters in the 29th minute with an Alan McNamee point.
The corner forward's goal three minutes later saw Offaly go in with the psychological advantage at the break and a 1-6 to 0-6 lead on the scoreboard.
In the second half, even though they were down to 14 players, it was Offaly who appeared to have the extra man. Clare failed to score for the first 17 minutes of the half, while Offaly toiled away manfully, kicking four points in the same period.
When Odran O'Dwyer fisted a Clare goal in the 59th minute after a well-worked movement, the deficit was reduced to just three points, 1-10 to 1-7.
But some erratic shooting and an inordinate amount of possession-loss ordained that this three point margin would not be breached.
Offaly methodically added two valuable points from a long-range free by the accurate Ciarán McManus and a Colm Quinn effort from play before the end, while all Clare had to offer was a Denis O'Driscoll injury-time point following some inexcusable misses.
OFFALY: K Meehan; C Daly (capt), G Rafferty, J Hurst; J Kenny, F Cullen, K Slattery; C McManus (0-4, fs), J Grennan; C Quinn (0-3, 2 fs), R Malone, P Mulhare; N Coughlan (0-3), P Kellaghan (0-1), N McNamee (1-1). Subs: C Evans for Rafferty (16 mins); M Mitchell for Kellaghan (40 mins); A McNamee for Grennan (62 mins); V Claffey for N McNamee (65 mins).
CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, D O'Sullivan (capt), C Whelan; P Smith, B Considine, N Griffin; G Quinlan (0-1), D Russell; P McMahon, M O'Connell, D O'Driscoll; R Donnelly, O O'Dwyer (1-5, 1f), M O'Dwyer (0-2, fs). Subs: D Hedigan for Considine (26 mins); A Clohessy for McMahon (44 mins); S Hickey for Donnelly (59 mins); P Cosgrove for M O'Dwyer (68 mins).
Referee: G Kinneavy (Roscommon).
