Offaly take Division 3 title defeating Kildare
Lilies give it their all but no denying The Faithful
Offaly came out on top in this afternoon's AFL Division 3 final at Croke Park, repeating their legue win of just two weeks ago. This time The Faithful had just two points to spare but they were good value for that winning margin.
Offaly went in at the break leading by three points 1-10 to 0-10.
A second goal from Cormac Egan (Jack Bryant was the earlier goal scorer) and Offaly looked well on their way 2-15 to 1-14 on 56 minutes, Harry O'Neill having palming to the Offaly net earlier.
Kildare gave it their all and while they got the lead back to two, it was not to be and Offaly held on, to take the title on a final score line of Offaly 2-17 Kildare 1-18.
Scorers: Offaly, Jack Bryant 1-3, Cormac Egan 1-1, Keith O'Neill 0-4, Jordan Hayes 0-2 (two-pointer), Dylan Hyland 0-2 (1 free), Shane|Tierney 0-2 (two-pointer), Cathal Flynn 0-1, Daire McDaid 0-1, Jack McEvoy 0-1.
Offaly, Jack Bryant 1-3, Cormac Egan 1-1, Keith O'Neill 0-4, Jordan Hayes 0-2 (two-pointer), Dylan Hyland 0-2 (1 free), Shane Tierney 0-2 (two-pointer), Cathal Flynn 0-1, Daire McDaid 0-1, Jack McEvoy 0-1.
Kildare, Harry O'Neill 1-0, Darragh Kirwan 0-3 (2 frees); Kevin Feely 0-2 (2 frees), Alex Beirne 0-3 (1 free); James McGrath 0-2, Cian Burke 0-2 (2 pointer free), Ryan Houlihan 0-1, Calum Bolton 0-1, Colm Dalton 0-1, Niall Kelly 0-1, Paddy McDermott 0-1, Darragh Swords 0-1.
OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson, Aidan Bracken, Daire McDaid; Rory Egan, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn, Keith O'Neill; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney. Subs: Ruairí NcNamee for Dylan Hyland (67 minutes); Aaron Leavy for Jack McEvoy (67 minutes).
KILDARE: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill Mick O'Grady,Brian Byrne; Ryan Houlihan, James McGrath, David Hyland; Kevin Feely, Jack McKevitt; Cathal Hagney, Callum Bolton, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Alex Beirne, Niall Kelly. Subs: Paddy McDermott for Cathal Hagney (26 minutes); Darragh Kirwan for Jack McKevitt half-time); Darragh Swords for Ryan Sinkey (44 minutes); Kevin Flynn for Mick O'Grady (54 minutes); Ryan Burke for Ryan Houlihan (58 minutes).
REFEREE: Kieran Eanetta, Tyrone.