Offaly crowned All-Ireland intermediate champions after tough battle with Kerry

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intrmediate Camogie Final

OFFALY 0-14

KERRY 0-11

OFFALY were crowned All-Ireland intermediate camogie champions after a hard fought victory over a dogged Kerry side in the final played at Croke Park on Sunday.

In a game that was predominantly dominated by defences, Offaly showed a greater degree of sharpness when it mattered to see off their rivals and claim their second All-Ireland intermediate crown and first since 2010.

Four points from player of the match Grace Teehan were instrumental in steering Offaly over the line in a game that was tight all the way through. Only once did the lead rise above three points and that was in the closing minutes as Offaly pushed for home. Kerry got it down to three again but Offaly shut up shop and ensured there would be no last minute goal to give Kerry a reprieve.

Over the 60 minutes of play Offaly deserved their victory. They were never behind in the contest and Kerry only managed to get back level on three occasions, twice in the first half and once early in the second. Offaly showed greater sharpness in picking off scores from play and kept Kerry chances to a minimum.

The first half was nip and tuck for much of the 30 plus minutes. Offaly started quickly and went three points up but Kerry pegged them back by the midway point of the half. Offaly went on front again and managed to eke out a one point lead at the interval. The sides were level twice in the half and Offaly never trailed.

However it could have been better for Offaly as they hit seven wides in that half and they could have put themselves in a more comfortable position at the break.

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That first half did lack a bit of fluidity. Both sides did well defensively and limited goal chances but neither side managed to take a dominant grip on the game in that opening period.

It continued in that vein after the interval with almost eight minutes elapsed before the first score came. Offaly went two up on three occasions but Kerry got it back to the minimum each time before Offaly hit three in a row in the closing minutes to effectively seal victory.

Offaly will be first to admit that this wasn't their best performance of the year but finals are for winning and that's exactly what they did. They could have made it easier on themselves but hitting over twice as many wides as their opponents, 13 to 6, didn't help their cause. At times players took the wrong option in going for scores when a colleague might have been in a better position but they never stopped trying.

They did a terrific job defensively and restricted Kerry to just four points from play. Goalkeeper Emer Reynolds made a crucial double save midway through the second half to maintain Offaly's lead at a critical point of the game. A goal at that point would have put Kerry in front and possibly given them the momentum but Offaly kept them out and maintained their lead. The Shinrone netminder's long puck outs were also very effective.

In defence Amy Byrne did a fine job at full back nullifying Jackie Horgan while Roisin Kinsella and captain Orlagh Phelan also performed heroically in defence. Christine Cleary and Sharon Shanahan put in a big shift in the middle of the field while in attack Grace Teehan took the scoring plaudits while Mairead Teehan and Fianait Dooley also worked very hard.

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Kerry goalkeeper Aoife Fitzgerald also kept her net intact while Sara Murphy, Roisin Quinn and Niamh Leen also worked tirelessly. Patrice Diggin was excellent in the middle of the field while in attack Kate Lynch and Jackie Horgan never stopped trying.

Offaly got the perfect start with a point after just 14 seconds. The ball was played forward from the throw in and Clodagh Leahy gathered and split the posts. She added two further points from frees to put Offaly three up after just three minutes.

Kerry got their first score from a free in the fifth minute from Patrice Diggin but straight from the puck out Offaly won possession and Mairead Teehan pointed. Patrice Diggin pointed another free before Jackie Horgan got Kerry's first point from play after nine minutes. Six scoreless minutes followed, during which Offaly hit four wides in succession, before Patrice Diggin brought the sides level from a free midway through the half.

Offaly regained the lead three minutes later when Clodagh Leahy pointed a '45' and they doubled their lead after 22 minutes when Grace Teehan gathered after good work by Ciara Maher and he pointed.

From the puck out Jackie Horgan won possession and passed to Kate Lynch and she pointed and they were level again after 26 minutes when Patrice Diggin pointed another free. Offaly quickly regained the lead when Amy Byrne won the ball in defence, found Fianait Dooley, who transferred to Grace Teehan and she pointed. Amy Byrne then did some great defensive work to prevent a possible goal chance for Kerry. Ellen Regan picked off a long range point for Offaly but Patrice Diggin replied for Kerry and that left a point in it at the break, Offaly leading by 0-8 to 0-7.

The early stages of the second half failed to provide a score. Offaly did have a glimmer of a goal chance when Mairead Teehan shot from 20m but Aoife Fitzgerald saved well. Patrice Diggin levelled from a '45' in the ninth minute but straight from the puck out Faye Mulrooney found Grace Teehan and she pointed. Offaly had another goal chance when Clodagh Leahy passed to Kate Pilkington but she pulled her shot across the goals and wide.

Clodagh Leahy put Offaly two up from a free and then in the 15^th minute Kerry had a great goal chance but Jackie Horgan's shot was well saved by Emer Reynolds and she also prevented Amy O'Sullivan from finishing the follow up from point blank range. Ellen O'Donoghue did get a Kerry point but Offaly quickly replied again with a Clodagh Leahy point from play.

Offaly missed chances to add to their lead over the next eight minutes and then Patrice Diggin cut the lead to a point again from a free. Grace Teehan pushed Offaly two ahead and when she was fouled Clodagh Leahy pointed the free.

With the game in injury time Grace Teehan raced clear but was hauled back by Roisin Quinn and the Naomh Brid player pointed the free herself. Patrice Diggin did point a late free for Kerry but they were unable to come up with an equalising goal and Offaly held on to claim the Jack McGrath Cup.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Emer Reynolds (Shinrone); Aoife Liffey (Shinrone), Amy Byrne (Shinrone), Megan King (St Cillian's); Ellen Regan (Birr), Roisin Kinsella (Birr), Orlagh Phelan (Naomh Brid); Sharon Shanahan (Shinrone), Christine Cleary (Shinrone); Fianait Dooley (Drumcullen), Mairead Teehan (Moneygall), Grace Teehan (Naomh Brid); Clodagh Leahy (Drumcullen), Ciara Maher (Moneygall), Kate Pilkington (Birr). Subs. Faye Mulrooney (Birr) (for Ciara Maher, 32 mins), Cathy Fogarty (St Cillian's) (for Megan King, 46 mins), Orla Kilmartin (Kilcormac/Killoughey) (for Kate Pilkington, 49 mins), Kaithlyn Kennedy (Drumcullen) (for Aoife Liffey, 57 mins), Caoimhe O'Donovan (St Cillian's) (for Christine Cleary, 59 mins).

KERRY: Aoife Fitzgerald; Michelle Costello, Sara Murphy, Rachel McCarthy; Roisin Quinn, Niamh Leen, Aoife Behan; Patrice Diggin, Caoimhe Spillane; Ann Marie Leen, Kate Lynch, Ruth O'Connor; Ellen O'Donoghue, Jackie Horgan, Amy O'Sullivan. Subs. Shannon Collins (for Ann Marie Leen, half time), Kathryn Ryan (for Amy O'Sullivan, 49 mins), Emma Conway (for Ellen O'Sullivan, 59 mins).

REFEREE: Donnacha O'Callaghan (Limerick)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

This was a fairly straightforward decision. On a day when scores were very hard to come by, Grace Teehan's five points, four of them from play, were crucial. It matched Kerry's entire return from play. She was also fouled for a number of the other frees which Clodagh Leahy pointed and she thoroughly deserved the player of the match award.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The double save from Emer Reynolds midway through the second half was a significant moment in the game. Offaly were two points ahead and had never been behind and a Kerry goal as the game entered the final quarter would have given them the momentum to push on but Emer Reynolds saved well from Jackie Horgan and with the ball bobbing loose in the square prevented Amy O'Sullivan from netting the follow up. It ensured Offaly maintained their lead and it was they who pushed on in the final quarter.

REFEREE WATCH

Donnacha O'Callaghan did a good job throughout. He gave a yellow card in the third minute and that set out the stall. There were some hard challenges but nothing of major note and he was in control of things at all times and wasn't a factor in the outcome of the game.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly will play in the All-Ireland senior championship in 2026 while Kerry will have to try again to win their first intermediate title.

VENUE WATCH

Croke Park was looking respendent for this triple header of All-Ireland finals with the pitch in perfect condition. The Camogie Association pulled out all the stops to make it a big occasion with pre-match and interval entertainment. It was a fitting celebration for All-Ireland final day, which attracted an attendance of 28,795.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly 13 (7 in first half) Kerry 6 (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly 0 Kerry 2 (Kate Lynch, Roisin Quinn).

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Offaly; Clodagh Leahy (0-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '45'), Grace Teehan (0-5, 0-1 free), Mairead Teehan, Ellen Regan (0-1 each).

Kerry; Patrice Diggin (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '45'), Jackie Horgan, Kate Lynch, Ellen O'Donoghue (0-1 each).

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