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Allen Shows Genuine Class As Solid Offaly Get Off To Winning Start

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Joe Quinn prepares to meet the tackle of Ronan Flanagan

Offaly 1-12 Cavan 0-8.

WE have seen too many flashes in the pan in the past to count our chickens after one game but the performance of young Bernard Allen was enough to provide a surge of excitement for home supporters as Offaly got off to a winning start in the Allianz National League Division 3 in Tullamore on Sunday afternoon.
The young Tubber man made a dream debut as he kicked 1-4 during an ultimately impressive win for an Offaly side who mixed the good and the bad but whose attitude and willingness to knuckle down to the task at hand was one of the most satisfactory aspects of their win and performance.
Allen's name was on the lips of Offaly supporters afterwards and as debuts go, this was certainly nearly as good as it can get. He showed for everything, was always thinking on his feet and he produced some delightful touches as well as taking some fine scores. He is small in stature which means that life is going to be anything but easy for him at this level, however, he has loads of potential: He was assisted by a poor Cavan defence and the fact that the visitors left Stephen Jordan on him for nearly the entire game will remain one of life's mysteries. Jordan gave Allen way too much space and the young corner forward took full advantage.
Allen's contribution was especially crucial as Offaly's ace marksman, Niall McNamee had a surprisingly quiet afternoon, contributing just one point from a free and being replaced fourteen minutes from time. It would be foolish to read too much into McNamee's form as he is coming off the back of a long and tiring season with Rhode and when he was replaced, Offaly had the points in the bag.
It is also important to stress a note of caution about Allen. He looked to be the real deal but one swallow does not make a summer and he still shas it all to prove.
It ended up being a very satisfactory afternoon for Offaly but it definitely did not go according to plan for the opening twenty minutes. In that spell, Offaly enjoyed the lion's share of possession but their forwards were not on their game as they kicked too many wides while dropping other balls into the grateful arms of Cavan goalkeeper, James Reilly. Offaly had nine wides in all in the first half and most of these were from scoreable positions.
Fortunately Offaly improved as the half wore on, began to find the range and their 0-7 to 0-2 interval lead was a more accurate reflection of the difference between the teams. For a while in the second half, Cavan rallied and threatened to make a real game out of it. They had the deficit back to three points after six minutes but Offaly's response in the face of adversity was particularly impressive. They simply stepped on the gas again and fittingly it was a tap in goal from Bernard Allen with eleven minutes left that finally put the issue beyond doubt.
It is important to stress a caveat when discussing Offaly's win. The standard of opposition provided by Cavan was desperately poor. Indeed, it was bordering on the substandard and it is very clear that the Ulster side have a long and hard road ahead of them.
Still Offaly can only beat what was in front of them and there was a lot to enthuse about with this win. Their work ethic was particularly note worthy and Offaly worked very hard throughout the field, both collectively and individually.
Bernard Allen was the undisputed man of the match but Offaly laid their foundations for this win with a powerful defensive performance against an admittedly mediocre Cavan attack. Offaly's defence floundered throughout last seaon but they were a lot steadier on Sunday with Brian Darby, Sean Pender, Stephen Lonergan and Karol Slattery, before going off injured, all impressing.
Richie Dalton had his best game in a while at midfield while John Coughlan and the hard working Ciaran McManus, who had a really good game, gave him ample support at different times. In attack, Bernard Allen carried most of the weight of responsibility though Graham Guilfoyle and Anton Sullivan, before he dropped deep, did provide good assistance at times.
Early on, it looked like it was going to be a struggle for Offaly. David Egan and Niall McNamee had early wides before Cavan drew first blood with points from Michael Brennan ('45') and Brendan Fitzpatrick. Amazingly Cavan did not score again until the second minute of the second half but Offaly made life quite difficult for themselves.
They continued to miss chance after chance but they did improve as the half wore on. Three points from the veteran Ciaran McManus (Two frees), two from Allen and one each from David Egan and Anton Sullivan gave Offaly a 0-7 to 0-2 interval lead and they would have been out of sight but for their wayward shooting.
A Niall McNamee free put them six clear on the resumption and John Reynolds was unlucky to see his shot hit the post with James Reilly grasping at thin air - Reynolds appeared to be shooting for a point.
Three unanswered points from Sean Johnston (Free), Mark McKeever and Ronan Flanagan (Free) cut the gap top three points after six minutes and it seemed that Cavan might bring it down to the wire.
Thankfully, Offaly responded very well in the face of danger. A Bernard Allen free settled them and this was followed by superb points from the same player and John Reynolds.
Cavan did have one chance to make a game of it when Sean Johnston got in on goal but amazingly he went for a point with a shot that rebounded to safety off the post. That really knocked the life out of Cavan's challenge, though Offaly continued to waste chances. They kicked four wides in a sustained spell of pressure before eventually putting Cavan to bed with a 24th minute goal. A brilliant Graham Guilfoyle ball put Niall McNamee in on goal. The Rhode man fumbled but the ball fell kindly to Bernard Allen who booted it to the net.
It was game, set and match to Offaly and while Cavan outscored them by three points to one in the closing ten minutes, it did not matter one iota as the home side secured the win that sets themselves up for a promotion bid.

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