At Pearse Park on Saturday next the Longford U-18s will get a second chance against Wexford, who lost to Wicklow 2-13 to 1-9 at Aughrim in the first round of the championship proper last weekend, and a major improvement will be required if the boys in blue and gold are to progress a stage further through the back door with the eventual winners at home to Carlow on May 8th.

A few hundred supporters gathered in the glorious sunshine at the excellent redeveloped Tullamore grounds on Saturday last and Offaly laid the foundations for their runaway victory at centrefield where the powerful figure of Noel Andrew Graham was particularly impressive.

Also very influential in a slick attack was right-corner-forward Paul McPadden who created havoc.

It was a lost cause for Longford going into the second half despite having the advantage of the breeze and they never recovered from the severe setback of failing to convert a penalty with 19 minutes gone in the game, at which stage rampant Offaly had raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead with their points coming from Paul McPadden (2), Stuart Cullen, Noel Andrew Graham (free) and prominent centre-half-back Declan Hogan.

After Longford shot a '45' and a free wide, the penalty was awarded when Mark Hughes was fouled in the square but the spot kick taken by James Noonan was saved at the foot of the post by the opposing keeper Matt Carragher which was a bad blow.

A couple of minutes later Offaly extended their advantage when Cullen shot over the bar before Longford finally registered their first score of the game.

Padraig McCormack kicked a point in the 24th minute, only for the home county to hit back immediately with a brace of points through Eamon McCabe and Barry Cushen.

At least the Longford supporters had something to shout about when a well-worked move involving no less than five players ended up with right-half-back Conor Clarke slotting the ball over the bar in the 27th minute.

But Offaly quickly regained the upper hand in adding two more points to their tally before the break through Peter Cunningham and Noel Andrew Graham (free) and increased the lead with just 10 seconds gone on the changeover when Derek Kelly was on target.

Longford did manage to pull a point back when Robbie Smyth squeezed his shot just inside the upright in the 36th minute but they failed to register another score during the remainder of the game.

Leading by 0-11 to 0-3, Offaly were completely dominant thereafter and when midfielder Graham converted another free the first goal materialised in the 48th minute when Paul McPadden made no mistake from a penalty after he was fouled in the square.

Another couple of points followed from Peter Cunningham and Pat Camon and the demolition job continued when full-forward Eamon McCabe fisted the ball to the Longford net in the 51st minute to leave the home side 2-14 to 0-3 in front.

No mercy was shown by Offaly as they surged forward in search of further scores and five more points followed from Noel Andrew Graham (free), a brace from Stuart Cullen (play and free), substitute Ciaran Hurley and Cunningham.

OFFALY: Matt Carragher; Conor Lowry, David Hanlon, Cian Donohoe; Joe O'Connor, Declan Hogan (0-1), Stephen Hannon; Noel Andrew Graham (0-4, all frees), Pat Camon (0-1); Peter Cunningham (0-3), Derek Kelly (0-1), Stuart Cullen (0-4, one free); Paul McPadden (1-2, goal from penalty), Eamon McCabe (1-1), Barry Cushen (0-1).

Subs:- Ciaran Hurley (0-1) for B Cushen (37 mins); John Flattery for P McPadden (53 mins); Paddy Farrelly for J O'Connor (55 mins); James Bingham for E McCabe (56 mins); Ian Curry for S Hannon (57 mins).

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (St. Vincent's, Drumlish/Ballinamuck); Darragh Bennett (Killoe Og), Oisin Farrell (Carrick Sarsfields), Adrian McLoughlin (Wolfe Tones, Mostrim); Conor Clarke (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Dylan Quinn (St. Vincent's), Shane Donoghue (Shannon Gaels, Rathcline); James McGivney (Northern Gaels, Mullinalaghta/Abbeylara), Darren Gallagher (Granard/Ballymore); Darren Farrelly (St. Vincent's), Padraig McCormack (Killoe Og, 0-1), Diarmuid Cooney (St. Vincent's); Robbie Smyth (Northern Gaels, Abbeylara/Mullinalaghta, 0-1), James Noonan (St. Vincent's), Mark Hughes (Killoe Og).

Subs:- Ronan Keogh (Killoe Og) for A McLoughlin (18 mins); Pedro Byrne (Ballymahon/Forgney) for J Noonan (48 mins); Charlie Martin (Granard/Ballymore) for D Gallagher (55 mins); Declan Mimnagh (St. Francis, Dromard) for M Hughes (55 mins).

REFEREE: Brian O'Shea (Dublin).

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