Crucial goals give Offaly the edge as Longford ladies are relegated to the Junior championship

Offaly . . . 4-5   Longford . . . 1-8

Crucial goals gave Offaly the edge in the make or break clash and this was always going to be a real uphill battle for a much understrength Longford team in the absence of several regulars this season. 

With captain Leanne Keegan (feeling unwell) unable to take her usual place at full-back but who was brought on at the start of the second half, nothing went right for the young Longford side under the guidance of caretaker manager Sean Meenaghan.

After conceding a couple of goals in the early stages of the game, the County girls enjoyed a dominant spell that yielded four points in a row - a brace from Grace Shannon (free and play) with Katie Crawford and Funmi Talabi also on target. 

But Offaly struck another killer blow with a cracking goal from Emily Bailey in the 18th minute and ended up in a comfortable 3-4 to 0-5 lead at the break after playing with the advantage of the breeze.  

Whatever chance Longford had of salvaging the situation in the second half suffered a shattering setback when Emma Hand shot the fourth goal for Offaly with just three minutes gone on the changeover. 

The gallant losers, to their credit, registered 1-3 without reply during the remainder of the match with Mairead Reynolds (in her first game for the county this year) scoring the goal in the 41st minute while the points were fired over by Grace Shannon (two frees) and substitute Anna Hayden.  

LONGFORD: Riane McGrath (Killoe); Maria Kelleher (Clonguish), Eimear O’Brien (Longford Slashers), Ellen Byrne (Carrickedmond); Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers), Emma Doris (Killoe), Aisling Cosgrove (Longford Slashers); Funmi Talabi (Mostrim, 0-1), Grace Shannon (Longford Slashers, 0-4, 3 frees); Katelyn McKeon (Clonguish), Mairead Reynolds (Dromard, 1-0), Ella O’Reilly (Mullinalaghta); Edel Sheehy (Mullinalaghta), Katie Crawford (Carrickedmond, 0-2), Elle Lynn (Mostrim).

 Subs:- Leanne Keegan (St Brigid’s Ardagh) for E Byrne, Caoimhe McCormack (Carrickedmond) for E Sheehy and Anna Hayden (St Brigid’s Ardagh, 0-1) for E Lynn (all at half-time); Sarah Macken (Colmcille) and Tessa Tiernan (Grattans) for E O’Reilly and C McCormack (57 mins). 

OFFALY: Kelley Cunningham; Nicole Farrelly, Emer Nally, Kayltin Flynn; Anna Grehan, Nicole Buckley, Michelle Mann (0-1); Emma Maher, Roisin Ennis; Emma Hand (1-1), Amy Gavin Mangan (1-0), Emily Bailey (1-0); Caoimhe Lynam (0-2), Roisin Cochram (1-0), Ciara Walsh (0-1).    

Subs:- Saorah Doyle for E Bailey (58 mins); Shauna Slattery for E Maher (injured, stoppage time).   

Referee: David Hurson.