Offaly, facing the wind, took 17 minutes to open their account with a Damien Murray ’65. Oliver Collins netted a free soon after Derry actually led by 1-2 to 0-4.

However, a Kevin Kelly goal handed the initiative back to Offaly and at the break, they led by 1-07 to 1-02. It was all one-way traffic in the second half.

Murray scored another goal after his free was deflected to the net and points then flowed like a conveyor belt from Murray, Brian Carroll and Brendan Murphy.

Murray ended with 1-07 to his credit and Carroll 0-6 as Derry, who used six subs, provided brittle resistance.