Offaly too strong for Down in Tailteann Cup

Down suffered defeat in Round 2A of the Tailteann Cup as they were beaten 3-22 to 1-20 by Offaly in Tullamore.

Goals from Dylan Hyland and Shane Tierney helped Offaly into a 2-13 to 1-11 at half-time with a late strike from Diarmuid Egan making sure of the comfortable win in the second half.

The Mourne men, who had overcome Leitrim in the preliminary round, produced a spirited attempt at a fightback in the second period, but ultimately fell short.

Conor Laverty's side will now drop into Round 2B while Offaly are through to the quarter-finals.

The two sides traded early scores before Offaly edged ahead through a two-pointer from Hyland.

Down responded through a goal from Pearse McPolin on eight minutes, but another two-pointer, this time from Jordan Hayes restored Offaly's advantage.

They stretched their lead out to five on 16 minutes as they were then awarded a penalty which Hyland duly dispatched.

A second goal arrived just five minutes later as Tierney netted to move Offaly out to 2-12.

On the back foot, Down set out to close the gap and rattled off a few points to reduce the gap to five at the break.

The Mourne men started brightly in the second half and drew level at 1-18 to 2-16 through a John McGeough point on 48 minutes.

Offaly found another gear and started to pull away again with a big two-pointer and a goal from Egan in a five-minute spell just after the hour ultimately moving the game beyond Down.