Offaly end Leinster campaign on high with comfortable win
When news broke during the week that regardless of Sunday's results, Offaly could not qualify for the Leinster final (it was based on the total amount of scores got in the game rather than the actual scoring difference between the teams), Greg Farrelly and his management were clear from the get go that the clash was still a must win and a must win well game for their charges and in the end that is exactly how it planned out.
Tg4 Leinster Ladies Football Intermediate Championship
Offaly 4-9
Wicklow 1-6
While disappointed not to be in a position of qualifying, relying on scoring difference and teams to do you favours would have been also far from ideal, the home side went about their business in a professional manner showing that last week's dismal display was out of character and firmly put to bed.
Offaly got off to a fine start with early points from Marie Byrne and Fiona Dempsey showing their intent and getting rewarded for their hard work early on.
Returning to the starting fifteen Roisin Ennis showed her return to form early on rattling the back of the Wicklow net in the tenth minute, this was followed three minutes later by a cracking finish to the top corner of the net by the ever impressive Emma Hand.
Dempsey doubled her tally before the visitors got off the mark through a Sinead McGettigan free which was cancelled out in the twentieth minute through a Cockram free.
Offaly skipper Ellee McEvoy opened her tally moments later pointing after coming deep from her midfield position showing her shooting experience.
Wicklow got their second score of the day through centre forward Sinead McGettigan, a score badly needed by the garden county ladies after missing a couple of previous relatively easy chances.
The excellent Roisin Ennis found herself in possession in the middle of the field and made a pulsating run through the heart of the Wicklow defense, and the closer she got to the scoring zone the more things opened up for her and she flawlessly slotted the ball into the back of the net for her sides third goal of the afternoon.
Deep inside the first half injury time Wicklow gave themselves a glimmer of hope when McGettigan turned over possession before shooting past Offaly net minder Kelley Cunningham on the sound of the halftime whistle.
The second half never really kicked into life at all and the first eleven minutes of the half only saw two scores, both for the home county through Ellee McEvoy and a fine effort from half time substitute Kym Furey.
Wicklow almost got in for their second goal, however, Aoife Gorman saw her shot excellently saved by Kelley Cunningham and Ella Parke pointed the rebound effort from close range.
Parke doubled her tally two minutes later, an effort that was quickly cancelled out by another score for the Faithful county skipper Ellee McEvoy.
The fifty sixth minute saw an exchange in points once again with McGettigan and Cockram increasing their tallies before Offaly substitute Ciara Walsh got herself in on the scoring act blasting to the back of the net.
Both teams pushed hard in injury time to try and keep the scoreboard ticking over but it was the back lines at each end that ensured there would be no late flags raised.
MATCH ANALYSIS
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Fiona Dempsey (Offaly): There definitely could have been cases made here for Roisin Ennis, Kelley Cunningham, Claire O’Brien and Roisin Cockram all doing some excellent things. Maebh Rouse and Michelle Mann also got through a mountain of work covering every blade of grass on the pitch, however the nod here goes to Fiona Dempsey.
Her work rate up and down the wing, putting in an honest fifty three minute display, scoring two points in linking well with her colleagues before being called ashore made her the stand out player on the day.
THE TEAMS:
OFFALY: Kelley Cunningham (Tullamore); Nicole Buckley (Naomh Ciaran), Nicole Farrelly (Edenderry), Eimear Hackett (Tullamore); Roisin Ennis (Naomh Ciaran), Michelle Mann (Naomh Molaoise), Claire O’Brien (Tullamore); Ellee McEvoy (Naomh Ciaran), Maebh Rouse (Tullamore); Kiah Farrelly (Edenderry), Marie Byrne (St Conkeths), Abbi Stafford (Rhode); Fiona Dempsey (Naomh Molaoise) Emma Hand (Ballinamere/Durrow), Róisin Cockram (Naomh Ciaran). Subs: Anna Grehan (Naomh Ciaran) for Hackett and Kym Furey for Stafford half time, Ciara Walsh (Naomh Molaoise) for Byrne (45), Eva Donlon (St Manchans) for Nicole Farrelly (47), Saoirse McGuinness (St Manchans) for Dempsey (53).
WICKLOW: Ellen Griffin; Meabh Carr, Lucy Dunne, Shannagh Goetelen; Niamh Caffrey, Ella Parke, Róisin Byrne; Aoife Gorman, Sinead McGettigan, Aobha Harmon; Eimear O’Brien, Niamh Cullen, Alana Carroll. Subs: Caoimhe Murphy for Carr (ht), Niamh O’Brien for Evans and Aoife Kavanagh for Caffrey (56), Megan Healy for Carroll and Jess Scott for McGettigan (60)
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Offalys third goal from the boot of Roisin Ennis was probably the score that sealed the deal leaving the gap at eight points at the half way stage
VENUE WATCH
Glenisk O’Connor Park was in fabulous condition on what was a glorious summers afternoon.
Programmes were available and the O’Connor Park Stafford ensured the scoreboard, team announcements and anthems were all in order.
WHAT'S NEXT
Attention now turns to the All-Ireland serious, Offaly are in a group with Clare and and the losers of Monaghan v Down for this phase of the competition.
THE SCORERS
Offaly: Róisin Cockram 1-2 (1f), Ellee McEvoy 0-3, Roisin Ennis, Emma Hand and Ciara Walsh 1-0 each, Fiona Dempsey 0-2, Marie Byrne and Kym Furey 0-1 each.
Wicklow: Sinead McGettigan 1-3 (2f), Ella Parke 0-1, Niamh Caffrey 0-1.