Second half Limerick blitz sends Offaly into relegation play offs

LIMERICK 5-15

OFFALY 0-5

LIMERICK produced a powerful second half performance to overwhelm Offaly and earn a 25 point victory in their final group game in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship in Banagher on Saturday.

Only trailing by a goal at half time, Offaly would have gone out for the second half with good hopes of pulling off the victory that would have secured their status in the senior championhip for next year but it all went wrong for them after the break. They were simply overrun by the Shannonsiders who added 4-10 to their tally while Offaly were kept scoreless in the second half and it is Limerick who are assured of staying in the top grade next year while Offaly must now face into the relegation play offs.

It was a sobering experience for Offaly and one that will leave them scratching their heads. They were competitive in the first half and kept in touch with their opponents and it would have been difficult at that point to predict that there would be 25 points between the teams at the final whistle.

Offaly weren't helped by the loss of Sarah Harding to injury in the first half. She had her leg heavily strapped and was clearly hampered by the injury. She bravely wanted to carry on but management had to take the decision that it was better in the long run to take her off.

Offaly did well to stick in the game in the first half. Limerick had a lot of the ball and a lot of chances but good defending allied to some poor shooting ensured that the Shannonsiders didn't get out of the reach of the home side and with only a goal between them at the break, it was still all to play for.

Limerick had given a few indications in that first half of their threat. As well as the one goal they scored, Leah Gallagher had pulled off a great save from a penalty while she also advanced quickly to force Sarah O'Brien to shoot wide on another occasion. But having survived those scares, Offaly would have hoped to drive on in the second half but it just didn't happen for them.

Limerick came out quickly after the break and got the first four points and when they got their second goal nine minutes into the half, there was only going to be one winner. Offaly struggled to get out of their own half and scoring opportunities were very limited. Offaly scored two points from play in the first four minutes of the game but failed to score from play after that only adding three more points from frees before half time.

In contrast Limerick simply opened up after the break and once they put daylight between the sides, they were able to play with greater freedom. In all ten different players got on the scoresheet for Limerick as they came in waves in the second half.

Offaly now go into the relegation play offs with Wexford and Down and will hope that they can lift themselves after this setback and do enough to maintain their senior status.

Before the start both teams wore the same T-shirts in the continuing protest for equality for camogie and ladies football players and lined up alongside each other for the national anthem. They then all left the pitch and went back to their dressing rooms before re-emerging for the start of the game, which thus started eight minutes late.

Limerick hit the front after just 16 seconds when Laura Fennelly set up Sarah O'Brien for a nice point. Offaly replied immediately and a good ball from Grainne Dolan found Becky Bryant and she split the posts. Claire Keating put Limerick in front from a free but Offaly were level again when Clodagh Leahy's long free was batted out by Laura O'Neill and Siobhan Flannery doubled the ball back over bar after four minutes.

Another Claire Keating free put Limerick back in front and then after seven minutes they found the net. Caoimhe Costello picked out Sarah O'Brien with a good cross and she fired low to the far corner of the net. Becky Bryant and Claire Keating exchanged points from frees before Limerick missed a great chance of a second goal. Aine Reynolds put Sarah O'Brien through but Leah Gallagher advanced sharply and the Limerick corner forward steered her shot wide.

Becky Bryant pointed another Offaly free after 24 minutes but two minutes later Limerick were awarded a penalty. Claire Keating's strong shot bounced in front of Leah Gallagher but she got her body behind the ball to bring off the save. Becky Bryant pointed another free for Offaly before Ailbhe Larkin's long range point gave Limerick a 1-5 to 0-5 half time lead.

Offaly missed an early chance from a free at the start of the second half and Limerick quickly got into their stride. Caoimhe Costello pointed a free and Sarah O'Brien added another. Leah Gallagher pulled off a good save from Laura Fennelly but Limerick were back quickly with points from Mairead Ryan and Laura Fennelly.

The wheels really began to come off for Offaly when nine minutes into the half Offaly got into trouble after a puck out and Claire Keating and Caoimhe Costello linked up with Aine Reynolds and she finished to the net. Caoimhe Costello pointed another free and then when Laura Fennelly's ball bounced off the stick of Leah Gallagher, Claire Keating grabbed it and netted goal number three.

Sophie O'Callaghan and Caoimhe Costello (free) added further points before Laura Fennelly's shot came down off the crossbar and over the line and Limerick were 4-12 to 0-5 in front midway through the half.

Both sides made substitutions but Limerick continued to rack up the scores. Aine Reynolds, Orlaith Kelleher and Caoimhe Costello all added points before sub Lizanna Boylan put the icing on the cake by shooting to the top corner to give Limerick a 25 point winning margin.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

LIMERICK: Laura O'Neill; Teresa Dore, Marion Quaid, Aoife Nelligan; Mairead Ryan, Mary O'Callaghan, Stephanie Woulfe; Ailbhe Larkin, Sophie O'Callaghan; Sarah O'Brien, Orlaith Kelleher, Aine Reynolds; Claire Keating, Laura Fennelly, Caoimhe Costello. Subs. Cliodhna Ryan (for Claire Keating, 48 mins), Lizanna Boylan (for Aine Reynolds, 48 mins), Aine O'Tiarnaigh (for Stephanie Woulfe, 52 mins), Ciara O'Riordan (for Orlaith Kelleher, 55 mins), Lorraine McCarthy (for Sarah O'Brien, 55 mins).

OFFALY: Leah Gallagher (Tullamore); Louise Mannion (St Rynagh's), Alana Roddy (Birr), Orla Gorman (Tullamore); Sarah Walsh (Tullamore), Aoife Liffey (Shinrone), Orlagh Phelan (Naomh Brid); Clodagh Leahy (Drumcullen), Grainne Dolan (St Rynagh's); Sarah Harding (Birr), Rachel Brennan (St Cillian's), Siobhan Flannery (St Rynagh's); Labhaoise Glynn (Lusmagh), Becky Bryant (Tullamore), Lisa Gorman (Tullamore). Subs. Ciara Maher (Moneygall) (for Sarah Harding, 20 mins), Niamh Killeen (St Cillian's) (for Labhaoise Glynn, half time), Faye Mulrooney (Birr) (for Lisa Gorman, half time), Siobhan Killeen (St Cillian's) (for Alana Roddy, 51 mins), Sinead Moore (Kilcormac/Killoughey) (for Grainne Dolan, 55 mins).

REFEREE: Justin Heffernan

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

All the contenders were on the Limerick side and mainly in the forward line. Sarah O'Brien set them on the way inside the first minute and she was lively throughout the game, winning a lot of ball and running impressively at the Offaly defence. Her speed was a problem for Offaly in a strong all round display.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

There wasn't one particular moment but Limerick's third quarter blitz really floored Offaly and there was no way back for the home side after that.

REFEREE WATCH

On the whole Justin Heffernan did well and was consistent in his rulings. He did hand out four yellow cards in the first half and a couple did seem a bit harsh as they looked like accidental collisions but maybe he judged the duty of care was on the person he penalised not to put an opponent in danger.

TALKING POINT

Offaly's second half collapse was difficult to comprehend. They had battled so well in the first half to stay in the game and while Limerick looked dangerous Offaly had ridden the storm and put themselves in a good position at the break. But they failed to get going at all in the second half. Limerick just blew them away and Offaly had no answers. One wonders where this kind of Limerick performance was all year as they only won two games in total between league and championship.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly head into the relegation play offs with Down and Wexford hoping to avoid the drop to the intermediate grade. The year is over for Limerick.

VENUE WATCH

There was a double header at the Banagher venue with the Offaly juniors also in action beforehand against Wicklow in the Nancy Murray Cup, losing by a point after extra time. The club had all arrangements up to scratch as usual, with plenty of stewards on duty and parking well marshalled.

STATISTICS

Wides; Limerick 11 (7in first half) Offaly 6 (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Limerick 1 (Aoife Nelligan) Offaly 3 (Siobhan Flannery, Alana Roddy, Becky Byant)

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Limerick; Claire Keating (1-3, 0-3 frees), Sarah O'Brien (1-2), Laura Fennelly and Aine Reynolds (1-1 each), Caoimhe Costello (0-4, frees), Lizanna Boylan (1-0), Ailbhe Larkin, Mairead Ryan, Sophie O'Callaghan, Orlaith Kelleher (0-1 each).

Offaly; Becky Bryant (0-4, 0-3 frees), Siobhan Flannery (0-1).