London claimed a first championship win in 11 years this afternoon at Offaly’s expense in the opening game of the 2024 Tailteann Cup.
It finished 2-20 to 0-12 at Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore, where Stephen Dornan and Ciaran Diver bagged second-half goals in a famous victory for the Exiles.
Having raced into an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead, Michael Maher’s men would hold a two-point lead at the half (0-8 to 0-6) and saw early points in the restart from Shay Rafter backed up by a Dornan goal in the 51st minute.
It’s be five minutes before Offaly came up with a response via a Nigel Dunne free which was erased by Ruairi Rafferty ahead of Diver putting the game to bed for the visitors with five minutes to go.
The result marks a first football championship win for London since 2013 when they defeated both Sligo and Leitrim en route to the Connacht SFC final where they'd lose out to Mayo.
TweetLondon have won their first Championship game in 11-years🤯
— Score Beo (@Score_Beo) May 11, 2024
Donegal native Ciaran Diver starred for The Exiles scoring 1-5. London born Shay Rafter also impressed scoring 0-4
Offaly 0-12 | London 2-20@AllianzIreland #StopTheDrop pic.twitter.com/YQOiqVcv81