Offaly ladies round off league campaign with deserved victory over Wexford

Following last weeks sensational display away to Roscommon, albeit losing out by a single point having missed a penalty and hit the wood work in second half injury time, Offaly knew promotion hopes were off the cards and already assured of their Division 3 status and the sides set to meet in the Leinster Championship in a few weeks time, Greg Farrelly and his management team used this clash to give members of his panel some game time, a total of 28 players saw action over the hour. 

It was the home side who were first out of the traps when team captain Ellee McEvoy pointed a close free early on before Emma Hand found the net a minute later to give the Offaly outfit the best possible start playing into a stiff breeze.

Caoilfhoinn NiNuaillain (free), Grace Donovan and Caitriona Murray all raised white flags for the yellow bellies by the tenth minute mark, following a number of wides at either end of the pitch it was the Offaly girls who found the next score when Maria Doyle got her first score of the afternoon and of the campaign to put her side back two to the good.

Donovan got her second of the afternoon followed by a fine effort from wing back Amanda Power to leave proceedings all square on the twenty minute mark.

Corner forward Saorah Doyle and a fisted effort from McEvoy from close range were soon cancelled out at the Offaly end of the park by Donovan and another NiNuaillain free leaving the sides deadlocked at the sound of the halftime whistle.

The back on form McEvoy once again pushed her side infront with two points, one a well executed score from play along with a close range free either side of a  NiNuaillain free from close range. 

Half time substitutes Sarah Fitzgerald and Kym Furey both found the net to seal the deal for the Faithful county in the final ten minutes leaving the victors seven points to the good finishing the campaign on a high.

The Teams

Offaly: Lauren Dunne (Rhode); Fia Quinn (Clara), Michelle Mann (Naomh Molaoise), Nicole Farrelly (Edenderry); Abbi Stafford (Rhode), Emma Maher (Naomh Ciaran), Fiona Dempsey (Naomh Molaoise); Marie Byrne (St Conleths), Ellee Mc Evoy, capt, (Naomh Ciaran); Eve Kelly (Clara), Ciara Walsh (Naomh Molaoise) Eabha Enright (Shamrocks); Maria Doyle (Edenderry), Emma Hand (Ballinamere/Durrow), Saorah Doyle (Ballinamere/Durrow.

Subs (all used ): Anna Grehan, Kym Furey, Sarah Fitzgerald, Amy Gavin-Mangan, Roisin Ennis, Kiah Farrelly, Eimear Hackett, Saoirse McGuinness, Róisin Cockram, Nicole Buckley, Chloe Sheridan, Ana Moore. 

Wexford: Sadbh McCarthy; Kellyanne Dempsey, Maria Byrne, Katie English; Amanda Power, Roisin Murphy, Sarah Harding-Kenny; Aisling Halligan, Ciara Donnelly; Roisin Hughes, Catriona Murray, Clodagh Dunne; Caoilfhoinn Ní Nuailláin, Grace Donovan, Kellie Kearney. Subs: Ciara Roben for Murray, Niamh English for Donnelly, Ciara Banville for Halligan, Aoife Cullen for Kearney, Chloe Fox for Roben.

Venue Watch

Edenderry G.A.A. had their facilities in top nick again for this game, it was a last minute move from Gaelic Park to their new facility in Wevers Field for this clash.

Offaly LGFA hosted the game well, plenty of car parking, programmes and a tuck shop available.

The only black mark was the scoreboard was not in operation, in the end the gap in scoring was obvious but when a game is in nip and tuck territory it’s crucial to have it in operation.

Referee Watch

Overall Marion Hayden wasn’t a factor in the result.

However some of her calls were baffling at times, Ellee McEvoy was struck hard when contesting a ball at one point and a free awarded against her which was baffling to all present. 

Marie Byrne was penalized at one point when a Wexford player ran into her, neither committed anything near a foul but a free was awarded. 

Her decision to issue Ellee McEvoy a late yellow card was probably harsh too, the Offaly captain queried a call not to award a free when a Wexford kick out did not pass the twenty one meter line but was touched by a defender. McEvoy was entitled to ask why here as it was a clear foul.

The levels of consistency over all in ladies football is very poor at times and can be very frustrating for supporters, let alone players and management teams.

It’s something the LGFA and Officials/Teams need to have more clarity on. 

What’s Next

This concludes the league campaign for both sides and preparation now commences for championship in a few weeks time.

The Scorers

Offaly: Ellee McEvoy 0-6 (3f), Emma Hand Sarah Fitzgerald and Kym Furey 1-0 each, Saorah Doyle and Maria Doyle 0-1 each

Wexford: Caoilfhoinn Ní Nuailláin 0-3frees, Grace Donovan 0-3, Ciara Roben, Aoife Cullen, Amanda Power and Catriona Murray 0-1 each.