Offaly's championship ambitions come to an end after heavy Wexford defeat

TG4 All-Ieland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship

WEXFORD 3-10

OFFALY 0-2

OFFALY'S interest in the All-Ireland intermediate ladies football championship came to an end when they suffered a heavy defeat to Wexford in their final group game at Tubber on Sunday last.

Following their defeat to Clare in their opening group game the previous weekend, Offaly needed to win this game to ensure that they stayed in contention for the quarter final places but they found Wexford a tough hurdle and were soundly beaten.

To be fair the final scoreline was probably a bit harsh on Offaly. They enjoyed plenty of possession but it was their inability to turn that possession into scores that would prove their downfall. Wexford were far more clinical when in attacking possession and they punished Offaly on the scoreboard.

Despite playing with the wind in the first half Offaly failed to find the target but they were still very much in touch with Wexford until five minutes before the break when Wexford struck for two goals within a minute and that sent them in with a 2-4 to 0-0 lead at half time.

Wexford added four more points in the second half before Offaly finally got their first score after 48 minutes but Wexford hit back within a couple of minutes with their third goal and with both sides making a lot of substitutions the game petered out after that.

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It was a disappointing result for Offaly and they must now regroup and prepare for a relegation battle. As mentioned they did enjoy plenty of possession over the hour. Indeed they did very well in retaining possession for long periods but too often it was well out the field and they were unable to break through the Wexford rearguard. Wexford applied very good pressure on the Offaly players in possession and pushed up well on the Offaly kickouts, making it very difficult for them to get out of their own half. It forced Offaly to play the ball around too much in their own half and at times that possession was turned over and led to Wexford scores.

Offaly won the toss and played with the wind in the first half but they were unable to put that wind to their advantage. Indeed bar a free which dropped short and another shot which landed in the goalkeeper's arms, they rarely threatened the Wexford posts.

Wexford were a bit more direct when they got the ball. They broke quickly when they gained possession and took scores when they got the opportunities. They were probably stronger physically than Offaly and they used that to good effect. They did kick a few poor wides but overall they were stronger than Offaly and booked their places in the quarter finals ahead of their final group game against Clare.

To their credit Offaly never gave up and kept trying up to the final whistle. Nicole Buckley, Niamh Glackin, Kaytlin Flynn, Dawn Hannon, Michele Mann, Emma Hand and Saorah Doyle all put in a huge effort.

For Wexford Kellyann Dempsey, Aisling Halligan, Clara Donnelly, Maria Byrne, Orlaith Byrne, Ailis Neville and Chloe Foxe all made significant contributions to their victory.

The start of the game was symptomatic of much of the game from Offaly. They won the ball from the throw in and they maintained possession for almost three minutes with Wexford barely touching the ball but then conceded a free, which Wexford took quickly and Ailis Neville passed to Chloe Foxe who kicked the first point of the game. The same player added another point from a free a couple of minutes later.

Offaly continued to hold the ball well but too often the final pass went astray. Wexford got a third point from Maria Byrne after 13 minutes and Chloe Foxe pointed another free after 20 minutes. Five minutes before the break disaster struck for Offaly. Tara Doyle's cross dropped in the goalmouth where Lauren Dunne got a fist to it but only managed to knock it down to Ailis Neville who finished to the net.

A minute later Neville had a chance of a second goal but was fouled and a penalty awarded which Chloe Foxe dispatched to the corner of the net and that gave Wexford a 2-4 to 0-0 half time lead.

Clara Donnelly stretched the lead three minutes into the second half and they thought they had a third goal when Aoife Cullen finished to the net but she was penalised for overcarrying. Caitriona Murray and Tara Doyle kicked further points before Ailis Neville added to her tally approaching the midway point of the half.

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Offaly finally got their first score after 48 minutes when Saorah Doyle kicked a 20m free but two minutes later Wexford scored their third goal. An Offaly attack broke down and Wexford broke quickly upfield and sub Julia Dempsey finished a good move with a goal. Aoife Tierney and Caitriona Murray (free) added points before Emma Hand collected a good ball from Saorah Doyle and drilled a shot just over the bar for Offaly's only point from play.

It was scant reward for Offaly's efforts but they must refocus now and prepare for the relegation play offs in a bid to retain their intermediate status.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

WEXFORD: Siobhan Cloake; Katie English, Sadbh McCarthy, Kellyann Dempsey; Ciara Banville, Aisling Halligan, Roisin Murphy; Clara Donnelly, Maria Byrne; Orlaith Byrne, Ailis Neville, Aoife Cullen; Caitriona Murray, Tara Doyle, Chloe Foxe. Subs. Niamh Cullen (for Roisin Murphy, 38 mins), Grace Donovan (for Chloe Foxe, 38 mins), Julia Dempsey (for Tara Doyle, 47 mins), Anna Hughes (for Clara Donnelly, 55 mins).

OFFALY: Lauren Dunne (Rhode); Jane Maher (Ballinamere/Durrow), Niamh Glackin (Shamrocks), Nicole Buckley (Naomh Ciaran); Eabha Mai Tierney (St Manchan's), Kaytlin Flynn (St Manchan's), Aine Phelan (Tullamore); Anita Watkins (Shamrocks), Dawn Hannon (Rhode); Michele Mann (Naomh Molaoise), Marie Byrne (St Conleth's, Laois), Abbi Stafford (Rhode); Isabelle Liu Lyons (Edenderry), Emma Hand (Ballinamere/Durrow), Saorah Doyle (Ballinamere/Durrow). Subs. Saoirse McGuiness (St Manchan's) (for Niamh Glackin, 36 mins), Ella Cuskelly (Naomh Molaoise) (for Isabelle Liu Lyons, 36 mins), Aoife Minnock (Shamrocks) (for Jane Maher, 36 mins), Isabelle Liu Lyons (for Anita Watkins, 44 mins), Niamh Glackin (for Aine Phelan, 51 mins).

REFEREE: Kevin Phelan (Laois).

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Offaly had some notable performers, including Dawn Hannon, Kaytlin Flynn and Saorah Doyle, but most of the contenders were on the Wexford side with Chloe Foxe, Ailis Neville and Clara Donnelly all coming into contention, but I've gone for Maria Byrne. She put in a very big effort throughout, won a lot of ball around the middle of the field and troubled Offaly for the full hour.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Only four points separated the sides five minutes before half time but Wexford scored two goals in just over a minute to give them a 2-4 to 0-0 half time lead and that was too much a mountain for Offaly to climb.

REFEREE WATCH

Kevin Phelan applied the rules diligently. He was consistent in his rulings throughout and wasn't a factor in the outcome of the game.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly will face a relegation semi-final against the bottom team in group 2, which will be Down, and that game is on the last weekend of the month. Wexford will host Clare next weekend to decide who tops the group.

VENUE WATCH

Tubber hosted the game well. There was a small crowd with many Offaly supporters gone to Roscommon to watch the minor footallers. The pitch was in good condition and the club had a shop in operation for spectators.

STATISTICS

Wides; Wexford 9 (5 in first half) Offaly 1 (0 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Wexford 0 Offaly 1 (Nicole Buckley).

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Wexford; Chloe Foxe (1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), Ailis Neville (1-1), Julia Dempsey (1-0), Caitriona Murray (0-2, 0-1 free), Maria Byrne, Clara Donnelly, Tara Doyle, Aine Tierney (0-1 each).

Offaly; Saorah Doyle (free) and Emma Hand (0-1 each).

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