Faithful fightback not enough against Limerick in Camogie championship
Despite a spirited second-half comeback and playing the final quarter with a numerical advantage, the Faithful County were unable to overturn a first-half deficit.
OFFALY'S hopes of building on their opening-round victory in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championship suffered a setback on Saturday afternoon as they were edged out by Limerick on a 3-13 to 1-14 scoreline at TUS Moylish.
Despite a spirited second-half comeback and playing the final quarter with a numerical advantage, the Faithful County were unable to overturn a first-half deficit as Limerick claimed their first points of the campaign.
Offaly made a bright start, applying pressure high up the field and were quickly rewarded when Kate O'Connell opened the scoring before Clodagh Leahy doubled the lead. Only a sharp save from Sarah Gillane denied the visitors an early goal.
Limerick responded with a goal from Laura Sothern after Donna Kenny's quick free created the opening, but Offaly remained composed. Sarah Harding and Rachel Brennan both found the target as Mairéad Teehan's influence around midfield helped Offaly draw level midway through the opening half.
However, Limerick gained control approaching the interval. While Leahy continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over from placed balls and Harding added another point, the hosts took advantage of a strong spell to pull clear. Sothern, Ciara Curtin and Lizzie Boylan all struck key scores, with Boylan finishing to the net after a powerful run through the middle.
A Kenny free left Limerick leading 2-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Offaly again emerged strongly after the restart. Leahy and substitute Ellen Regan reduced the deficit before Kenny replied for the home side. The game swung dramatically in Offaly's favour when Teresa Dore received a second yellow card and was dismissed, leaving Limerick down to 14 players.
The visitors capitalised on their extra player as Leahy landed two frees before producing the game's key moment from an Offaly perspective, racing onto a long delivery and firing to the corner of the net to leave just a point between the sides with 15 minutes remaining.
Momentum appeared firmly with the Faithful at that stage, but Limerick regained control through a fortunate third goal when a long Kenny free dropped into the square and crossed the line. Although Leahy responded with another free, Offaly struggled to find a way through a determined Limerick defence during the closing stages.
Kenny added a superb sideline effort before Rachel Brennan and Kenny exchanged late scores in stoppage time. Despite throwing everything forward in search of the goals needed to rescue the result, Offaly were unable to breach the home defence again.
Clodagh Leahy led the Offaly scoring with 1-6, while Rachel Brennan, Sarah Harding and Kate O'Connell each contributed two points. Ellen Regan added a point from the bench in a performance that showed plenty of character despite ending in defeat.
SCORERS - Limerick: Donna Kenny 1-10 (1-6 frees), Laura Sothern 1-2, Lizzie Boylan 1-0, Ciara Curtin 0-1.Offaly: Clodagh Leahy 1-6 (0-5 frees), Kate O'Connell, Rachel Brennan and Sarah Harding 0-2 each; Ellen Regan 0-1.
LIMERICK: Sarah Gillane; Teresa Dore, Ciara O'Riordan, Ellie Woulfe; Sophie O'Callaghan, Stephanie Woulfe, Eimear O'Donovan; Ailbhe Larkin, Orlaith Kelleher; Donna Kenny, Lizzie Boylan, Ciar Curtin; Sarah O'Brien, Laura Sothern, Shauna Cunningham.
Subs: Rebecca Delee for Ailbhe Larkin (43 minutes); Cliodhna Ryan for Teresa Dore (47 minutes); Maeve Geary for Donna Kenny (62 minutes).
OFFALY: Emer Reynolds; Aoife Liffey, Amy Byrne, Megan King; Una Kilmartin, Aisling Brennan, Orlagh Phelan; Mairéad Teehan, Allie Butler; Grace Teehan, Rachel Brennan, Kate O'Connell; Clodagh Leahy, Sarah Harding, Faye Mulrooney.
Subs: Ellen Regan for Allie Butler (half-time); Fianat Dooley for Kate O'Connell (half-time); Áine O'Connor for Megan King (43 minutes).
REFEREE: Raymond Martin Kelly (Kildare).