Offaly overwhelm Antrim to continue fine Allianz Hurling League form

Offaly continued their very solid start to the National Hurling League with a convincingly impressive 2-26 to 0-17 win over Antrim in Tullamore on Sunday.

It was Offaly's fifth point from their three games and while their toughest tests lie ahead and they missed an opportunity of collecting both points in their opening draw against Carlow, they will still be very happy with where they are.

Still missing regular starters in Ben Conneely, Cillian Kiely and Eoghan Cahill along with Adam Screeney, Offaly will learn a lot more in their next outing against Dublin in Croke Park but they will travel there with their confidence high.

They anticipated the usual tough test from Antrim here but played extremely well on the day, gaining control in the ten minutes before half time and remaining in the driving seat throughout the second half.

They never looked like losing in the second half, keeping the scoreboard ticking over and the points were wrapped up from a long way out.

Even before man of the match Killian Samspon got their second goal in the 59th minute, firing home after poor defending, Offaly supporters were relaxing. Sampson’s goal gave them a 2-23 to 0-12 lead and he was given a rest moments later with his conscience clear after a great shift that included four points and some powerfully incisive running and passing.

Sampson’s super display was significant as it had been a traumatic week for him and all in Shinrone following the tragic death of a club senior colleague Joe Cleary earlier on.

Players such as Ciaran Burke, Donal Shirley, James Mahon, Brian Duignan and Dan Bourke also gave five-star performances in an encouraging win and very solid all round display – the defence were very tight and the forwards scored freely with