Offaly Ladies Footballers begin league campaign with share of the spoils
Offaly Ladies Intermediate football team began their 2024 campaign with a hard earned draw against a very good Sligo opposition in Ferbane GAA Club on Sunday afternoon last. While this is a game the Faithful ladies could have won just as easy as they could have lost Greg Farrelly's charges certainly won’t complain at getting the point here.
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 Round 1
Offaly 1-8
Sligo 1-8
The game was just two minutes old when Offaly vice-captain Fiona Dempsey raised the first white flag of the afternoon before the lively Sligo wing back Tara Breheny got her and her side's first point of the day.
The wet and blustery conditions were proving to be making life difficult for both teams, scores were really at a premium throughout the opening quarter of this battle.
The home side regained their lead in the fourteenth minute of the half when Roisin Cockram pointed a close range free after Offaly skipper Ellee McEvoy was fouled, while at the opposite end of the field Sligo free taker Ciara Gorman pointed a free from thirty meters out before the same player dropped two efforts into the arms of Offaly net minder Kelley Cunningham who dealt with the conditions very well before clearing her lines.
McEvoy got her first of the afternoon before the powerful Ciara Walsh latched onto a fine pass from Marie Byrne to leave the Offaly girls three points to the good with three minutes remaining in the half.
Breheny was giving the Offaly defenders some serious bother, getting up and down the wings and she was rewarded with two lovely scores in the space of ninety seconds as the half came closer towards its conclusion.
Offaly's crucial score came in stoppage time of the half when the super midfielder Amy Gavin-Mangan carried the ball superbly through the heart of the Sligo defence before feeding Cockram. Cockram slipped the ball to the lively Walsh and her run was rewarded with her second score, and the game's first green flag to give the home side a four point lead.
At the opposite end of the park the Offaly backs looked to have conceded a free, however, the ball ended up being blasted to the back of the net by corner back Aishling Molloy who had made a long dart up the field, the referee looked like he was going to pull play back but allowed the advantage persist much to the delight of the travelling support in the stand.
It was the free takers who were busy in the opening minutes of the second period with Ciara Gorman getting a point for the visitors before Roisin Cockram blasted over a close range effort, which almost landed in the roof of the Sligo net, after Amy Gavin-Mangan had been fouled following a surging run through the centre of the Sligo defence.
The visitors looked to be creating the best of the chances in the third quarter and two long range efforts from the excellent Breheny once again fell short much to the relief of the Faithful ladies. Their relentless pressure was almost rewarded when a mix up amongst the Offaly defence broke to Gorman whose shot off the grounded blasted off the crossbar and back into play where Isabella Henry saw her shot sail over the bar with the aid of the post to leave proceedings all square once again.
Ellee McEvoy and Offaly went in search of another goal in the fourty-seventh minute, however, the Magpies defence done well to ensure that it was not going to be the case bottling up the Offaly midfielder really well before catching her slightly high according to referee Paul McCaughey - Ellee made no mistake in pointing the resulting free from close range.
Rianna Smith pointed a free for the Sligo ladies before their goalkeeper Ellen Mcguire pulled off a fantastic double save firstly from a Emma Hand effort and then the resulting rebound effort from Sarah Fitzgerald ensuring she wouldn’t be beaten for a second time in this very fascinating battle.
Sligo took the lead for the first time in the game when Rianna Smith once again pointed a free as the stopwatch entered injury time. Offaly responded in the sixty first minute when Ellee McEvoy pointed a free, through the aid of the crossbar, to leave the sides all square.
Both times were trying hard to find the balance between taking an opportunity and retaining crucial possession of the ball and no real clear cut chances fell to either side as the sound of the full time whistle came sixty four minutes into the game leaving both sides with a point each.
MATCH ANALYSIS
THE TEAMS
Offaly: Kelley Cunningham (Tullamore); Anna Grehan (Naomh Ciaran), Michelle Mann (Naomh Molaoise), Kiah Farrelly (Edenderry); Nicole Buckley (Naomh Ciaran), Emma Maher (Naomh Ciaran) Nicole Farrelly (Edenderry); Amy Gavin-Mangan (Naomh Ciaran) Ellee McEvoy (Naomh Ciaran); Fiona Dempsey (Naomh Molaoise), Abbi Stafford (Rhode), Ciara Walsh (Naomh Molaoise); Sarah Fitzgerald (Naomh Ciaran), Marie Byrne (St Conleth's, Laois), Róisin Cockram (Naomh Ciaran). Subs; Emma Hand (Ballinamere/Durrow) for Stafford (halftime), Maria Doyle (Edenderry) for Cockram (42), Eimear Hackett (Tullamore) for Grehan (50).
Sligo: Ellen McGuire; Aishling Molloy, Ellie McDermott, Aofie Morrisroe; Cara King, Claire Dunne, Tara Breheny; Sarah Cunney, Sinead Regan; Cora Gilligan, Leah Kelly, Jade Lyons; Ciara Gorman, Nisha McDonagh, Leah Duffy. Subs: Rianne Smith for Regan, Erin Lavin for Lyons, Megan McCormack for Gorman.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Amy Gavin-Mangan (Offaly): In a game where there was no real sensational display, which was understandable given the conditions and the fact both teams were trying to keep things as close to simple as possible, Amy Gavin-Mangan gets the nod. Her runs caused a number of problems for the Sligo defence and the midfielders turn over count was solid. Over all she was Offaly stand out player.
Sligo's Tara Breheny had a great shift for her side, as did Sarah Sarah Cunney and captain Claire Dunne. Both keepers made some great stops dealing with high balls especially well on a difficult afternoon. Ellee McEvoy, Kiah Farrelly and Ciara Walsh DID well also for the Faithful County.
REFEREE WATCH
Paul McCaughy was consistent. . The Westmeath man did his best to allow for the conditions and also looked to play the advantage rule where possible. He was clear in his communication and over all done a good job. He didn’t have to reach to the pocket for a card in what was a clean game too.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Ellen McGuire's double save in the last five minutes of the game was absolutely crucial. A goal here would have given Offaly a three point lead and most probably would have sealed the deal for the home team.
VENUE WATCH
Ferbane GAA and Offaly LGFA hosted this game very well. With a number of Ferbane based Naomh Ciaran club players lining out they made sure everything was in order with plenty of stewards on hand and programmes available. The advantage of a stand on a wet afternoon was a plus also. They had their scoreboard in operation and the pitch was in fantastic condition- cut and marked out accordingly and while very soft nothing can be done about this. They deserve huge credit in ensuring this clash being able to go ahead following the rain throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
TALKING POINT
While some may feel this is a clash Offaly should have or could have got a win in, this is really a side who are in transition. A number of the team lined out for the first time in competitive action which can only be a positive and with Roisin Ennis and Mairead Daly (recovering from surgery), Kym Furey, Emer Nally, Roisin Mealiffe (Injured), Dawn Hannon (Overseas with army), Kate Kenny (College football/camoige commitments) all absent at the moment this Offaly squad should get stronger as the league campaign continues.
WHAT'S NEXT
Offaly face Antrim next Sunday in another home tie, currently fixed to be played in Edenderry GAA at 2pm.
THE SCORERS
Offaly: Ciara Walsh 1-1, Roisin Cockram (frees) and Ellee McEvoy (2frees) 0-3 each, Fiona Dempsey 0-1.
Sligo: Aishling Molloy 1-0, Tara Breheny 0-3, Ciara Gorman (frees) and Rianna Smith (frees) 0-2 each and Isabella Henry 0-1.