All to play for as Offaly face Clare in All-Ireland camogie championship
Victory for Offaly by more than six points could clinch All-Ireland quarter final berth
OFFALY senior camogie team go into next Saturday's final round group game in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland championship with all to play for.
Depending on results of the final round of games, Offaly could find themselves in contention for a place in the All-Ireland quarter finals or else in a scrap to avoid relegation.
That is how tight this group is and other counties find themselves in the same boat as Offaly, challenging for the top two or looking over their shoulders hoping to avoid the relegation play off.
There were new structures for the senior championship this year with the ten teams divided into two groups. Last year's four All-Ireland semi-finalists are in Group 1 and all will qualify for the knock out stages, the top two straight to the semi-finals and the bottom two playing in the quarter finals.
The other six teams are in Group 2 with the two two bagging quarter final places and the bottom two facing a relegation final to determine who drops down to intermediate grade for 2027.
After four rounds of games, the certainties at this stage are that Kilkenny have secured their place in the quarter-finals while Wexford are certain to be in the relegation final. The other four teams – Offaly, Clare, Limerick and Dublin - all have plenty to play for next Saturday in the final round of games after Offaly secured a sensational two-point win over Dublin in Birr last Saturday.
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Earlier in the campaign Offaly got off to a great start with a dramatic late victory over Wexford but defeats followed against Limerick and Kilkenny before Saturday's 0-18 to 1-13 win over Dublin.
A fast start was crucial for Offaly in Birr, and after falling 0-2 to 0-1 behind, they rallied brilliantly to hit six in a row, including a couple from Clodagh Leahy as she went on her way to a fine tally of 0-12.
Mairéad Teehan also fired over some excellent long-range frees but Offaly also needed a wonderful diving full-length save to deny Kerri Finnegan a goal just before half-time to lead by 0-11 to 0-6 at the break.
Two Caitlin McKenna points briefly brought the margin back to three after half-time but Offaly’s collective defending was outstanding and with Leahy in superb form, Offaly could afford to concede a well-taken goal to Aisling Gannon and still see out a vital 0-18 to 1-13 win.
That leaves Offaly on six points, the same mark as Limerick while Dublin are on three points, but Clare are in the driving seat for the second quarter final place as they are on nine points and even a draw against Offaly would be enough for them to advance. However they have to travel to Birr on Saturday to face Offaly where a win for the home side would leave both on nine points and Clare are coming off a heavy defeat to Kilkenny last weekend. Limerick could also join Offaly and Clare on nine points if they beat Dublin and it would then come down to scoring difference.
Scoring difference is the first point of separation if two or more teams end up tied on points. At the moment Clare (-3) have the edge over Offaly (-14) and Limerick (-13) so at least a six-point win is required for Offaly, and then they will need Dublin to stay close against Limerick or beat them.
Dublin now must beat Limerick to stay out of the relegation final, but if the Dubs pick up a win in Munster next Saturday, and Offaly lose to Clare, then either Limerick or Offaly will play Wexford to see who drops back down to intermediate.
Offaly have done well in their first year back at senior level after winning the intermediate title last year and they now have a chance of making the knock out stages. The story of their win over Dublin was Offaly’s ferocious endeavour, encapsulated by their tackling.
“The players worked extremely hard. There was a major step-up for us going into a championship of competing against the top teams,” said Faithful boss Jack Maher.
“It’s taken us a while to get to that pitch, but the girls are really getting there. The tackle count is the highest we’ve had so far, and that’s something that we’re really chasing.”
Clodagh Leahy highlighted fellow attackers like Faye Mulrooney and Sarah Harding for their graft and effort in making tackles all over the field, and the lively crowd in St Brendan’s Park that helped to push them over the line.
“We played Dublin in the League and in Leinster and they beat us in both, but we felt all week that we were in a good place to put it up to them.
“It doesn’t matter what number you’re wearing, you have to fight for the jersey. That was what made all the difference in the last few minutes there to make sure we held on,” Leahy added.
“We love playing here in Birr, it’s like a home pitch for all of us because we know it so well, and the support that came out today really helped to push us out over the line.”
It was all a very different story to the comfortable wins that Dublin enjoyed over the Midlanders in the League and Leinster Championship, though Maher refuted the idea that Offaly are doing anything different.
“Nothing has changed. The girls are just starting to express themselves. It probably didn’t relate in some of the early games, but the girls are putting everything into it and they’re starting to get the reward now,” he said.
“There’s a great buzz in Offaly at the moment. We’re all in the one area, we’re all in it together.”
Now it all comes down to 60 minutes against Clare next weekend. Clare have had a very good year so far and won Division 1B but they lost by 4-14 to 1-8 to Kilkenny last weekend having won their first three games. They will be keen to bounce back from that defeat but we won't know until Saturday whether that defeat has left its mark.
Offaly couldn't have asked for anything more in their first year back at the top level and their destiny is in their own hands and if they can build on last Saturday's win, they could be in the running for a quarter final place, but they will also be keeping an anxious eye on what's happening in the Dublin-Limerick game. It's certainly all to play for for all teams.