Goals the key as young Offaly Ladies fulfil their destiny with All-Ireland win
Not to be outdone by their male counterparts exploits in recent days Offaly Ladies U-14 footballers fulfilled their destiny as they were crowned All-Ireland champions for 2024.
Ladies Football All-Ireland u14 Silver Final
Offaly 4-5 Donegal 2-6
The opening half was a tight tense affair and it was the faithful ladies who were first out of the traps when team captain Sophie Farrelly scored the first of the day after a lovely pass through from Sarah Smullen. Farrelly doubled her own and her teams tally moments later pointing a close range free.
Donegal soon responded with a fine point before midfielder Ella Brennan found herself through one and one, making no mistake in rattling the back of the Offaly net giving the northerners the lead for the first time in the game.
Donegal were proving to be a handful for Offaly causing them all sorts of problems, however, they just could not make it count on the scoreboard leaving this a very tight affair.
Farrelly stepped up to take a free close to the twenty minute mark and to the delight of the Faithful crowd her shot lobbed into the back of the net leaving proceedings all square once again.
Offaly got their noses in front once again pointing from close range and had the opportunity to go four ahead on the stroke of half time but a Farrelly penalty didn’t hit the target after Sinead Delaney was fouled in the square.
It was first blood to Offaly in the opening minutes of the second half when Anna Ryan done well to win possession from a Sophie Farrelly shot which dropped short before finishing to the net to push her side four ahead,
It would have been very easy for the Donegal outfit to throw in the towel but to their credit they responded moments later with a goal of their own through Kaya Gavigan found herself in possession with an empty Offaly goal in front of her and she made no mistake in bringing it back to the minimum.
The Donegal ladies tagged on three quick points in succession in the following minutes and it looked like they were in a tremendous position as the stopwatch pushed into the last five minutes of the game.
Offaly were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon and to her credit Sophie Farrelly showed serious character and confidence to step over it and finished to the back of the net leaving the Offaly outfit two ahead.
Donegal managed to get it back to the minimum in the fifty eighth minute through Ruby McGee leaving the Offaly contingent living on their nerves in the remaining minutes.
Donegal were awarded a free deep in injury time and as the ball dropped short it was the Offaly defenders who reacted quickest, clearing their lines, before Anna Keelaghan found herself in front of the posts and made no mistake in sealing the deal with a fine goal, quickly followed up by another effort from Farrelly to leave the green, white and gold five to the good at the sound of the full time whistle.
MATCH ANALYSIS
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Sophie Farrelly (Offaly): This was probably an easy call to make in the end, Sophie Farrelly was everything a captain should be on the day. Doing the right thing, instrumental in everything Offaly done, leading from the front and scoring well. She also showed serious character to step over a penalty in the second half after missing one in the opening period.
THE TEAMS
Offaly: Ciara Dunne; Meabh Coyne, Sophie Fox, Farrah Delaney; Clodagh Rigney, Aoife Smullen, Diana Heavin; Layla Rose Hartley, Sarah Kellaghan; Sinead Delaney, Sophie Farrelly, Anna Kellaghan; Anna Ryan, Annie Mulhare, Julianne McKeon. Subs Used: Grace Dunican, Diana Sikore, Grace Scully, Layla Rose Hartley
Donegal: Aoife Meehan; Zarhina Carr, Andrea Reid, Molly Friel; Iona McHugh, Aoibhinne Gallagher, Niamh McGlinchy; Ella Brennan, Eabha Molloy; Dayna Molloy, Rachel Wallace, Kyra Gavigan; Mya Barr, Megan Gallagher, Ruby McGee. Subs Used:Adha Gill, Kate McMeniman, Amy McAteer, Shauna Doohan, Orla McLaughlin
VENUE WATCH
Carrigallen GAA in Co.Leitrim played host to this clash and it was a perfect venue for the occasion. Everything ran smoothly and the hosts had everything in order.
REFEREE WATCH
D. Grogan from Tipperary had a mixed bag here and some of the calls made certainly annoyed the Offaky contingent, overall it wasn’t an impact on the result in the end.
THE SCORERS
Offaly: Sophie Farrelly 2-4 (1p, 1f), Anna Keelaghan 1-1, Anna Ryan 1-0
Donegal: Ella Brennan and Kyra Gavigan 1-0 each; Ruby McGee 0-3; Zarhina Carr, Dayna Molly and Adha Gill 0-1 each.