Offaly camogie team in 'Tipp' top shape
JOACHIM Kelly's Offaly made it a hat-trick of victories in succession when they overcame Tipperary by the minimum margin, 0-14 to 0-13, following a hard fought Division 2 encounter on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon in Banagher.
Camogie National League Division 2
Offaly 0-14
Tipperary 0-13
Siobhan Flannery opened the scoring after ten minutes with a great point. Michelle Davis and Elaine Dermody (free) added points making it 0-3 to nil. Tipperary settled into the match and Siobhan Ryan opened their account with a point.
Tipp hit the next three points through Cora Hennessy (free), Siobhan Ryan (free) and Geraldine Kinnane.
There was little to separate the counties and many promising Tipperary offensives were intercepted by '09 Soaring Star winner Fiona Stephens who had an outstanding game at corner back for the 'Faithful' girls.
Michelle Gleeson replaced Aoife Kelly after Aoife picked up an injury. Elaine Dermody added two more points and Arlene Watkins added another for Offaly before half-time. Sandra Dwyer and Geraldine Kinnane replied for Tipperary, leaving the sides deadlocked at the break, Offaly 0-6 Tipperary 0-6.
Siobhan Ryan and Elaine Dermody traded converted frees immediately after the resumption. Offaly then added three further points courtesy of Birr duo Arlene Watkins and Sheila Sullivan (0-1 each), while Drumcullen ace Elaine Dermody was on target with a '45.
Tipperary were then forced to replace Maria Tynan who suffered a serious shoulder injury. Cora Hennessy settled Tipperary with a point from playing reducing the deficit back to two points, 0-8 to 0-10.
Aoife Corrigan replaced Michelle Gleeson midway through the second half. Michelle Davis added to Offaly's lead with a point from play before Tipperary made three more substitutions introducing Siobhan Bourke, Ciara Johnson and Aoife McLoughney. Tipperary's forwards piled on the pressure but Offaly held firm with confident custodian Eleanor Clendennen poducing some super saves.
Orlagh Kirwan was replaced by Karen Nugent. The closing fifteen minutes were tense and exciting with Tipperary scoring five excellent points from play including three from Siobhan Ryan, giving her a personal tally of 0-6.
Suddenly Offaly found themselves chasing the game and trailing by 0-11 to 0-13. A foul on Siobhan Flannery provided Elaine Dermody with the opportunity to reduce the arrears and St Sinchill's Jean Brady followed up with the equaliser. In the dying minutes dynamic Dermody converted a difficult free sealing a dramatic victory for the 'Faithful' girls.
Offaly will be thankful for Elaine's coolness and confidence under pressure and they face Antrim away next Sunday, March 14.
OFFALY: Eleanor Clendennen; Karen Brady, Lorraine Keena, Fiona Stephens; Sheila Sullivan (0-1), Michaela Morkan (capt.), Marian Crean; Arlene Watkins (0-2), Linda Sullivan; Aoife Kelly, Elaine Dermody (0-7, 0-4 frees & 0-2 '54's), Michelle Davis (0-2); Jean Brady (0-1), Karen Nugent, Siobhan Flannery (0-1). Subs.: Michelle Gleeson for A Kelly, Aoife Corrigan for M Gleeson, Orlagh Kirwan for K Nugent.
TIPPERARY: Paula Ryan; Maria Tynan, Siobhan O'Neill, Geraldine Stapleton; Julie Kirwan, Tishy O'Halloran, Michelle Shortt; Mary Ryan, Sandra Dwyer (0-2); Siobhan Ryan (0-6, 0-2 frees), Cora Hennessy (0-2), Deirdre Dunne; Alison Lonergan, Geraldine Kinnane (0-2), Elaine Hough.
Subs.: Siobhan Bourke for S Dwyer, Ciara Johnson for G Kinnane, Aoife McLoughney (0-2) for E Hough.
Meanwhile, Offaly U-14's defeated Kildare by 3-8 to 1-0 in Athy in their second match of the Leinster 'B' championship.
OFFALY panel: Siobhan Kinsella, Fiona Guinan, Laura Hogan, Amy Ryan, Siobhan Killeen, Kelly Sammon, Aisling Brennan, Rachel Brennan, Chloe McGlinchey, Michaela McCreevey (1-1), Roisin Egan (1-4), Christine Cleary, Mairead Jennings, Cailin Fitzgerald (0-1), Lisa Gorman (1-2), Shannon Tuohy, Paula Kinnarney, Aine O'Meara, Clodagh McCormack, Dawn Whelahan, Sarah Lyons, Laura Walsh, Ciara Izuchukwa, Yvonne Ryan, Leanne Maher, Ciara Ryan, Olive Kearney, Laura Cleary, Fiona McCormack, Niamh Collins, Aisling Feeney, Aoife Troy, Ciara Corrigan, Lucy Ryan, Grainne Dolan.
Offaly U-14's play Westmeath at home next Sunday – time and venue to be confirmed.
Sportstar Competition: Offaly County Board will run their annual Sportstar competition on St Patrick's Day in Kinnitty at 11am. There will be a Junior and Senior competition and all clubs will be represented on the day. Orlagh Kirwan, Birr, and Siobhan Flannery, St Rynagh' s, were last year's winners of the Junior and Senior competitions respectively. Players will be put through their paces with a 100m sprint, a 1,500m race, long puck, obstacle course, longest sideline puck, penalty taking and free taking. If your free why not come along and support the girls.
Intermediate training continues every Friday evening on the all weather pitch in Birr Community School Birr at 8pm. County U-16 training continues on Tuesday and Saturday evening. If you are interested in finding out more please contact Catherine Byrne on 087 7776910.
Fixtures: Saturday, March 13 - U-16 'B' All-Ireland Championship Offaly v Waterford in Lusmagh at 2pm; Sunday, March 14 - U-14 B Leinster Championship Offaly v Westmeath & National League Division 2 - Antrim v Offaly.
For further details please visit www.offalycamogie.ie
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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