Offaly secure place in quarter finals with hard earned victory

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship Group 1 Round 5

OFFALY 2-10

WESTMEATH 1-8

OFFALY secured their place in the quarter finals on the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland intermediate camogie championship with a hard earned five point victory over neighbours Westmeath at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar on Saturday.

In a tense, tight battle with little between the sides for most of the hour, it was a goal from substitute Grainne Kennedy with three minutes to go that finally swung the tie in Offaly's favour and ensured that they advanced to the knock out stages of the championship ahead of their rivals.

This was a do or die contest for both sides. They went into the game level on points on the table behind Cork and Galway so it was all down to who would win this tie to see who would claim the third place in the group to progress to the knock out stages. Offaly had a slight advantage on scoring difference so a draw would have been enough for them to advance.

And for much of the game a draw was a very real possiblility. The sides were level on six occasions in the first half at the end of which Offaly held a slender one point advantage, 1-7 to 1-6. They managed to keep their noses in front throughout a low scoring second half. The sides only managed two points each in the first 27 minutes of the half and it was still all to play for but then Offaly struck for that goal by Grainne Kennedy and she added a further point deep in injury time to seal Offaly's victory.

With so much at stake it was a very cagey battle for much of the time. It was of a very stop start nature which didn't allow any real flow and there were far too many rucks and close in scraps for the ball to allow for a free flowing game. Conditions probably didn't help a huge amount. There was very heavy rain before the end of the first half which made the pitch slippy and the wind seemed to strengthen a bit in the second half when it favoured Westmeath.

Offaly played with that advantage in the first half and a one point lead at the interval might have looked precarious but they stood up in the second half and cut out the attacking threat posed by Westmeath, limiting them to just two points over the 36 minutes played in that half.

Over the hour Offaly probably shaded it and did deserve their win. They had a better spead of scorers with six different players contributing to their scoring tally, whereas Westmeath only had two scorers.

The Offaly defence really stood up in the second half when the pressure was on. Cathy Fogarty was excellent at full back while Orla Gorman, Orlagh Phelan, Ellen Regan and Alana Roddy also chipped in with valuable contributions. Megan Dowdall had caused a lot of problems for Offaly in the first half but the supply of ball to her was limited in the second half and she posed less of a threat.

Clodagh Leahy pointed five important frees for Offaly and did a lot of good work around midfield with Faye Mulrooney. In attack Grace Teehan, Becky Bryant and Aine O'Connor all put in a huge shift. Offaly did drop very deep in the closing stages leaving just one attacker up front which led to the ball coming back quickly at them but once the second goal went in it lifted everyone and Westmeath heads dropped a little.

Julie McLoughlin, Amelia Shaw and Muireann Scally worked hard in the Westmeath defence while Aoife O'Malley did well in midfield. They relied too heavily on the excellent Megan Dowdall in attack and she contributed all bar a single point of their total, the other point coming from centre back Amelia Shaw. Caoimhe McCormack, Sheila McGrath and Holly Dowdall also worked hard in attack.

Offaly opened the scoring from a Clodagh Leahy free inside the first minute but Megan Dowdall quickly levelled. Offaly then missed a great chance of a goal when Mairead Jennings' effort was blocked and fell for Fianait Dooley but she as hooked with the goal at her mercy. Clodagh Leahy and Megan Dowdall exchanged points from frees before Grace Teehan popped up with with a nice point for Offaly.

Megan Dowdall levelled from a free but from the puckout Becky Bryant restored Offaly's lead. Offaly won the puckout again and Fianait Dooley and Becky Bryant combined to set up Grace Teehan and she finished to the net after 19 minutes.

However Westmeath hit back instantly. Megan Dowdall won the ball near the endline and despite three Offaly players being in close proximity, she forced her way through and crashed the ball to the net. Three minutes later she slotted over another point and the sides were level again. Clodagh Leahy and Megan Dowdall swopped points from frees before Aine O'Connor gave Offaly the lead again. Megan Dowdall levelled from a free but Clodagh Leahy pointed another Offaly free five minutes into injury time to give them a 1-7 to 1-6 half time lead.

Scores were few and far between in the second half. Clodagh Leahy pointed an Offaly free after five minutes and nine minutes later Westmeath got a golden chance when Sheila McGrath was fouled and they were awarded a penalty. However Megan Dowdall hit the penalty poorly and shot wide. Amelia Shaw did pull a point back for Westmeath but Mairead Jennings popped over an Offaly free. Megan Dowdall replied with a Westmeath free after 51 minutes to cut the lead to one again but that was their last score as they missed a couple of chance to level it.

With three minutes of normal time left Grace Teehan and Becky Bryant set up sub Grainne Kennedy and she fired her shot to the roof of the net. The same player added another point five minutes into injury to seal a great win for Offaly.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Leah Gallagher (Tullamore); Orla Gorman (Tullamore), Cathy Fogarty (St Cillian's), Sharon Shanahan (Shinrone); Orlagh Phelan (Naomh Brid), Ellen Regan (Birr), Kaitlyn Kennedy (Drumcullen); Faye Mulrooney (Birr), Clodagh Leahy (Drumcullen); Fianait Dooley (Drumcullen), Ciara Ryan (Birr), Grace Teehan (Naomh Brid); Mairead Jennings (Birr), Becky Bryant (Tullamore), Aine O'Connor (Naomh Brid). Subs. Alana Roddy (Birr) (for Kaitlyn Kennedy, 30 mins), Grainne Kennedy (Drumcullen) (for Ciara Ryan, 41 mins), Elizabeth Harding (St Cillian's) (for Aine O'Connor, 57 mins), Leah Gath (Drumcullen) (for Mairead Jennings, 59 mins).

WESTMEATH: Anna Weir; Laura Doherty, Julie McLoughlin, Jade McKeogh; Maria Kelly, Amelia Shaw, Muireann Scally; Aoife O'Malley, Caoimhe McCrossan; Meadbh McLoughlin, Caoimhe McCormack, Hannah Core; Holly Dowdall, Sheila McGrath, Megan Dowdall. Subs. Aine Newman (for Caoimhe McCrossan, 12 mins), Meadbh Scally (for Hannah Core, 41 mins), Emily McCabe (for Maria Kelly, 48 mins), Ava Balfe (for Meadbh McLoughlin, 59 mins).

REFEREE: Enda Loughnane (Galway).

MAN OF THE MATCH

There were some very strong contenders for Offaly with Cathy Fogarty and Clodagh Leahy putting in strong claims but I've gone for Grace Teehan. She was involved in the action from the very start, scored Offaly's first goal, was also involved in the second, and won a lot of valuable possession in a tight game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Offaly's second goal was the decisive moment of the game. The game was still very much in the balance up to that but Grainne Kennedy's goal after 57 minutes finally gave Offaly some breathing space and they were able to see out the game from there.

REFEREE WATCH

Enda Loughnane handled the game very well. He was consistent in his rulings throughout and used the advantage rule well. He was unfussy but always kept control of things.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly advance to next weekend's All-Ireland quarter finals where they will play Meath in Thurles on Saturday at 2pm while it's the end of the season for Westmeath.

VENUE WATCH

Cusack Park in Mullingar was in good knick for this contest. Despite the heavy rain in the first half the pitch held up well and there was an enthusiastic crowd present for the contest.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 5 (2 in first half) Westmeath 8 (1 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 2 (Kaitlyn Kennedy, Sharon Shanahan) Westmeath 3 (Maria Kelly, Meadbh McLoughlin, Emily McCabe).

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Clodagh Leahy (0-5, frees), Grace Teehan, Grainne Kennedy (1-1 each), Becky Bryant, Aine O'Connor, Mairead Jennings (free) (0-1 each).

Westmeath; Megan Dowdall (1-7, 0-5 frees), Amelia Shaw (0-1).