Crucial goals give Offaly the edge over Longford in relegation play-off

Offaly will be playing in the LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Championship next year following their win over Longfordn the Intermediate relegation play-off at the Kinnegad grounds on Saturday.

TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Relegation Play-Off

Offaly 4-5  
Longford 1-8

Crucial goals gave Offaly the edge in the make or break clash as they second their place in the second tier again next year.

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.

Offaly got off to a flying start with two early goals from Amy Gavin Mangan and Roisin Cochram but Longford came back with four unanswered points.

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. 

To Longford's credit, they registered 1-3 without reply during the remainder of the match with Mairead Reynolds getting the goal but the gap was too big to bridge as Offaly registered a deserved and crucial win.

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

 Subs:- Leanne Keegan for E Byrne, Caoimhe McCormack for E Sheehy and Anna Hayden (0-1) for E Lynn (all at half-time); Sarah Macken and Tessa Tiernan 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.