Heartbreak for Donegal U-14s as Offaly win All-Ireland in Carrigallen

Offaly nailed home three second-half goals to clinch the U-14 All-Ireland Silver final in beautiful sunny conditions in Carrigallen. 

Only a point separated the teams at the break, but Offaly hit a purple patch in the final 10 minutes of the game to cruise to a deserving five-point victory. 

Offaly controlled the opening minutes of the game with captain Sophie Farrelly hitting over the first score after she was fed through by Sarah Smullen and Anna Ryan. She would double this a minute later after knocking over a free with Donegal really struggling to get the ball out of their own half. 

Donegal would be forced to work hard to get into Offaly’s half, but they would eventually get on the scoreboard on the fourth minute when Amy McAteer found Dayna Molloy running through to kick over. 

Megan Gallagher struck for goal one-on-one from a tight angle following that score, but the ball just struck wide of the post. 

Donegal would eventually find their goal on the ninth minute when Iona McHugh found an unmarked Ella Brennan through on goal. The Donegal midfielder made no mistake as she slotted it low into the back of the Offaly net to make it 1-1 to 0-2 points. 

Aidan McAteer’s side could’ve had a second goal seconds later when Megan Gallagher’s free dropped into the box which allowed Mya Barr to spring into the air and slap the ball into the net, but the referee was quick to deem it a square ball.  

Donegal’s strong running game was beginning to dominate proceedings but only could hit over one point in that period of time with Ruby McGee getting on the scoreboard. But then Offaly would find the net when a long-range free from Farrelly dropped short and fell into the back of the Donegal net on 18 minutes to leave it tied at 1-2 to 1-2. 

A foul on Sinead Delaney resulted in an Offaly penalty but Farrelly struck the ball wide to Donegal’s relief as the game stayed level. 

It was an extremely even final 10 minutes to the half, with neither side giving an inch and Anna Kellaghan landing the only point in that time as the half finished in Offaly’s favour with the Faithful County holding a 1-3 to 1-2 lead at the break. 

Offaly extended their lead five minutes into the second half when a free from Farrelly caught Donegal sleeping with the ball dropping short into Anna Ryan’s hands as she kicked into the net with ease. 

But Donegal didn’t die away and responded with a goal of their own when a running Ella Brenna drew in the Offaly defenders and goalkeeper, leaving it for Kaya Gavigan to kick into an open net to make it 2-3 to 2-2.  

Donegal kept building up attacks but couldn’t land the scores until Zarhina Carr punted the ball to level the match on the 16th minute before McGee landed her second of the afternoon to make it 2-4 to 2-3 in favour of Donegal. 

Donegal were in cruise control after Adha Gill knocked over her first point to give her side a two-point lead. And with Offaly needing a score, they duly found one with Farrelly nailing her third point from long range, under serious pressure. 

But then Offaly hit their purple patch and were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon for a foul inside the box, which Farrelly this time slotted home, despite goalkeeper Aoife Meehan getting her hands to it, to make it 3-4 to 2-5 with five minutes remaining. 

McGee would hit off her right foot to make it a one-point game with a minute remaining, and with a chance to level the match and bring to extra time, Donegal had a free that dropped short, but Offaly’s defenders were on hand to avert all danger.  

The Faithful County would end the match in the dying seconds as Anna Kellaghan struck for Offaly’s fourth goal which was followed up by another Farrelly point as the Leinster side captured the All-Ireland title with a five-point victory. 

Scorers – Offaly: Sophie Farrelly 2-4, 1f, 1 penalty; Anna Kellaghan 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. 

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.  

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.