With the wind at their back in the first half, the Ardsmen got off to a flying start and led 0-6 to 0-2 with eight minutes on the clock.
Offaly settled into the game however and calmly sent the next four over the bar to level proceedings. Brian Duignan’s third score from a free put them in front for the first time, with 17 minutes played and the gap was widened to four as Johnny Kelly’s men kept Down under wraps with the next three points to lead 0-10 to 0-6.
Paul Sheehan stopped the rot with a converted free but on 26 minutes from the puck-out Jack Clancy picked up the ball and drilled into the net.
But Down battled back before the break and scored seven of the the next nine points to trail by the minimum 1-12 to 0-14 at the half-time whistle.
It looked like Offaly were on their way when James Nally scored Offaly’s second maximum at the start of the second half, with three more goals to come from Duignan, a second from Clancy and the fifth scored by Oisin Kelly to give them a 5-20 to 0-24 advantage.
But again Down fought back with a late flurry as extra time approached, Daithi Sands hitting the net three times.
Offaly weren’t going to let them complete the comeback however and they held on to finish the match 5-23 to 3-25 winners.
Scorers – Offaly: B Duigan 1-9 3f, O Kelly 1-3, J Clancy 2-1, J Nally1-2, E Kelly 0-2, E Cahill 0-2, D King, L Watkins, R Ravenhill, S Burke, 0-1 each. Down: D Sands 3-2, P Shehan 0-10 (9f, 1’65), P Og McCrickard 0-5, E Sands 0-2, T McGrattan 0-2, C Taggart 0-2, R McCrickard, D Hughes 0-1 each.
Offaly: S Corcoran; K Connors, P Cantwell, L Watkins; D King, J Sampson, S Bourke; R Ravenhill, D Maher; J Clancy, B Duigan, J Nally; E Kelly, O Kelly, P Cleary. Subs: E Cahill for Duignan 49, K Sampson for E Kelly 52, C Burke for Cantwell 63
Down: S Keith; M Conlan, C Taggart, C Cassidy; T Murray, R McCrickard, L Savage; D Hughes, P Savage; P Sheehan, P Og McCrickard, E Sands; T McGrattan, D Sands, D Toner. Subs: C Lavery for Keith h-t, O McManus for Toner 48, N Milligan for McGrattan 63, A Furlong for Taggart 70
Referee: James Clarke
