Offaly book their place in All-Ireland semi-final with comfortable win over Carlow

OFFALY booked their place in the semi-finals of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship with a straightforward 12 point victory over Carlow in the quarter final played at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Saturday.

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Quarter Final

OFFALY 3-18 CARLOW 2-9

Two goals inside the first two minutes of the game set Offaly on the road to victory and while Carlow reduced the gap when backed by the wind in the first half, their cause took a serious dent when they were reduced to 14 players after 21 minutes when corner forward Leah Ryan received a straight red card.

Offaly held a seven point lead at the break, 3-5 to 1-4, and that lead was never seriously threatened in the second half. They gradually eased away from their opponents and took the opportunity to give a number of their subs a run out. A late Carlow goal was merely a consolation and Offaly finished the game in good stead with the last four points of the game.

Offaly now progress to the All-Ireland semi-finals which will be played as a double header at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge on Saturday next.

Offaly were always in control of this game. The two early goals against the wind helped to settle the team and they never relinquished their grip. All six starting forwards and both midfielders scored from play and they finished with a tally of 3-14 from play, which is good shooting. They probably coughed up a couple of chances but overall they did well in attack and the scoring threat was well spread around.

READ NEXT: Offaly GAA mourns sad early death of former top football referee

It wasn't perfect by any means. They gave up a number of goal opportunities that a sharper side than Carlow might have converted. They also conceded almost twice as many frees as their opponents (16-9) but these made little difference on the day as they were in control of the game and if pressed you felt they were always capable of lifting it to another level if needed.

They were strong in defence and some of their blocking was excellent. Amy Byrne was commanding at full back and Roisin Kinsella and Hannah Feenane were prominent on the half back line. Clodagh Leahy covered a lot of ground in the middle of the field and picked off good points from play and frees while Fianait Dooley, Niamh Sheehy and Mairead Teehan caught the eye in attack.

Sarah Joyce and Michelle Nolan worked hard in the Carlow back line, Eleanor Treacy tried hard in the middle of the field and Aimie Nolan and Ciara Kavanagh showed up best in attack.

Offaly made four changes from the team which defeated Westmeath in their final group game with Aoife Liffey, Cathy Fogarty, Grace Teehan and Niamh Sheehy coming into the starting line up with captain Orlagh Phelan, Sharon Shanahan, Megan King and Faye Mulrooney dropping to the bench on this occasion.

Carlow had first use of the strong wind but it was Offaly who made the best start with a goal after 27 seconds. Mairead Teehan won the ball on the right and headed goalwards and picked out Kate Pilkington who sidestepped the goalkeeper before shooting to the net. Just over a minute later Offaly raised a second green flag when Clodagh Leahy's free dropped short. Niamh Sheehy got a flick on it but goalkeeper Catherine Kavanagh gathered the ball but her clearance was blocked down and Mairead Teehan finished the ball to the net. Grace Teehan added a point and Offaly were seven points to the good inside the first three minutes.

Carlow threatened an early goal themselves but Hannah Feenane made a vital interception and cleared before Eleanor Treacy did open the Barrowsiders account with a point from a '45'. They did find the net then after seven minutes when a long puck out found Aimie Nolan in space and she raced forward and fired to the net.

Offaly responded with a point from Fianait Dooley and Clodagh Leahy added another from a free. Carlow had another goal chance when Aimie Nolan's cross was missed by Leah Ryan but Ciara Kavanagh did add a point to leave it 2-3 to 1-2 at the midway point of the first half.

Miaread Teehan was denied a goal by a good save from Catherine Kavanagh before Clodagh Leahy pointed another free. Then came the Carlow red card. Roisin Kinsella won the ball deep in her own defence and set off on a great run over the half way line chased by Leah Ryan, who swung wildly across the Offaly player and was given a straight red by the referee.

To compound Carlow's woe Offaly then scored their third goal. It came after a fine move involving Roisin Kinsella, Fianait Dooley, Clodagh Leahy, Kate Pilkington and Mairead Teehan, whose shot was diverted onto the post and Niamh Sheehy was on hand to finish the rebound to the net. Ciara Kavanagh hit two good points for Carlow before Christine Cleary finished the first half scoring with an Offaly point to leave them 3-5 to 1-4 in front at half time.

READ NEXT: Front row start for Alex Dunne at British F2 Feature Race at Silverstone

Three minutes after the break Clodagh Leahy stretched the Offaly lead from a free and she then added a good point from play. Eve Sinnott replied for Carlow but straight from the puck out Kate Pilkington won the ball and pointed for Offaly. Eleanor Treacy pointed a brace of frees for Carlow, sandwiching Offaly points from Moneygall duo Ciara Maher and Mairead Teehan, and Teehan then added another to leave Offaly 3-11 to 1-7 in front midway through the second half.

Grace Teehan and Eleanor Treacy (free) exchanged points before Niamh Sheehy and Fianait Dooley stretched the Offaly lead out to 12 points with seven minutes left. Carlow did strike for a second goal when Aimie Nolan sent a great shot to the net and Eleanor Treacy pointed a free to leave eight in it with under four minutes left but Offaly finished the stronger with three more points from Clodagh Leahy (one free) and another from Grace Teehan to leave them 12 points ahead at the final whistle.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Emer Reynolds (Shinrone); Aoife Liffey (Shinrone), Amy Byrne (Shinrone), Cathy Fogarty (St Cllian's); Kaitlyn Kennedy (Drumcullen), Roisin Kinsella (Birr), Hannah Feenane (Birr); Christine Cleary (Shinrone), Clodagh Leahy (Drumcullen); Grace Teehan (Naomh Brid), Ciara Maher (Moneygall), Fianait Dooley (Drumcullen); Niamh Sheehy (St Rynagh's), Mairead Teehan (Moneygall), Kate Pilkington (Birr). Subs. Karla Mannion (Drumcullen) (for Cathy Fogarty, half time), Caoimhe O'Donovan (St Cillian's) (for Christine Cleary, 41 mins), Aoife Hoctor (St Cillian's) (for Amy Byrne, 46 mins), Aine Rigney (Kilcormac/Killoughey) (for Aoife Liffey, 49 mins), Grainne Kennedy (Drumcullen) (for Mairead Teehan, 50 mins).

CARLOW: Catherine Kavanagh; Niamh Canavan, Rachel Breen, Sarah Joyce; Aibha Kiernan, Michelle Nolan, Mairead O'Shea; Eleanor Treacy, Caoimhe Jordan; Aimie Nolan, Ciara Kavanagh, Eve Sinnott; Holly Wall, Eibhe Lawler, Leah Ryan. Subs. Rhiannon Kenny (for Mairead O'Shea, 53 mins), Anna Murphy (for Eibhe Lawler, 56 mins), Abhainn Coady (for Holly Wall, 57 mins), Olwyn Lawler (for Aibha Kiernan, 59 mins).

REFEREE: Donnacha O'Callaghan (Limerick)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

This was a solid all round team performance from Offaly where they didn't have to rely on a couple of individuals. Roisin Kinsella had an excellent game in defence, as did Amy Byrne, but I've gone with Clodagh Leahy, who was consistent throughout the 60 minutes, shooting seven points, three of them from play.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

In one sense this game was decided inside the first 100 seconds of the game as Offaly had already bagged two goals at that stage while playing against the wind and another point followed soon after to put them seven clear. Carlow got it back to three points at one stage but Offaly just moved away again and that good start was a cushion that stood to them throughout.

REFEREE WATCH

Donnacha O'Callaghan did a good job throughout. He was firm in his decisions, he applied the advantage rule well and he was always in control. He had little choice but to hand out a red card to Carlow's Leah Ryan after 21 minutes as it was a striking offence and overall he handled the game very well.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly advance to next Saturday's All-Ireland semi-finals, which will be played as a double header at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge. For Carlow it's the end of the inter-county season.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park looked in its usual spendid condition on a blustery day with the wind blowing from the road goals. There was a small but enthusiastic crowd and all arrangements for the day were perfectly in order.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 7 (3 in first half) Carlow 3 (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 2 (Kaitlyn Kennedy, Caoimhe O'Donovan) Carlow 2 (Caoimhe Jordan, Michelle Nolan)

Red Cards: Offaly 0 Carlow 1 (Leah Ryan)

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Clodagh Leahy (0-7, 0-4 frees), Mairead Teehan (1-2), Kate Pilkington, Niamh Sheehy (1-1 each), Grace Teehan (0-3), Fianait Dooley (0-2), Christine Cleary, Ciara Maher (0-1 each).

Carlow; Aimie Nolan (2-0), Eleanor Treacy (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '45'), Ciara Kavanagh (0-3), Eve Sinnott (0-1).

READ NEXT: Offaly GAA club's genius transformation to feature on big RTE documentary