Offaly hold off Down in free-scoring Joe McDonagh battle

Before the sliothar was thrown in at Ballycran on Saturday both Down and Offaly knew their fates.

The hosts safe from relegation, with Meath dropping to the Christy Ring Cup next season and the visitors facing leaders Laois in the play-off final.

While the game meant little to either county in terms of the standings, Offaly were determined to keep their scoring tally high ahead of the final, while Down hoped to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Laois in Round 4.

It was the former who got the better of the latter but Down came close to pulling off a massive comeback at the death, and there were plenty of goals to enjoy in this high-scoring last group fixture.

Down had the wind at their back in the first half and led 0-06 to 0-2 with eight minutes on the clock, with their free-taker Paul Sheehan on song scoring 0-10 in total.

Offaly didn't panic however and soon settled into the game with the next eight scores to move into an 0-10 to 0-06 lead - Brian Duignan hitting three of those points.

Sheehan stopped the rot on 26 minutes with a converted free but Offaly responded immediately from the puc out, with Jack Clancy picking up the sliothar, weaving through the Down defence and drilling into the net.

But Down were determined to go into the break with a fighting chance in the second period and they did so by scoring seven of the the next nine points to trail by the minimum 1-12 to 0-14 at the half-time whistle.

It seemed like it was all for nought for Ronan Sheehan's men and Offaly were on their way when James Nally scored a second maximum right after the restart - and there was more to come.

Down kept in touch with four more points to trail by the minimum again 2-13 to 0-18 but on 45 minutes Offaly's advantage increased to five with