Offaly ladies blitz Longford to get All-Ireland bid up-and-running
Offaly ladies produce outstanding display to get campaign up and running
LGFA TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Group A Round 2
Offaly 1-22
Longford 3-2
The Offaly ladies produced an outstanding display of attacking football to overpower Longford in a one-sided TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Round 2 encounter at a wind-swept Glenisk O’Connor Park last Sunday.
Comprehensively beaten by Antrim in the opening round in Randalstown, Gavan Doyle’s charges bounced back in impressive fashion to reignite their All-Ireland hopes ahead of a trip to Kilkenny next Sunday and a home match against Derry in their final Group A fixture on Sunday, June 28th. Having drawn with Longford in the Leinster Junior Championship in Daingean last month and beaten them in Division 4 of the Lidl National League in late March courtesy of a second half scoring spree, this was expected to be another close affair, but Offaly dominated from the first whistle ‘til last to win with surprising ease.
Time and again, Offaly won possession from their opponents’ kickouts and this provided a platform for continuous attacks in the blustery conditions. It was all over bar the shouting at half-time with the winners perched on a 1-14 to 1-1 lead. But for the concession of two late goals and a tally of 12 wides, their winning margin would have been even greater.
Offaly were superior in virtually every facet of the play with Nicole Buckley, goalscorer Emma Hand, Faith McDermott and Emma Maher having particularly good games. Saorah Doyle was unerring from placed balls and was unlucky to have a goal disallowed for a questionable ‘square ball’ infringement midway through the second half.
Faith McDermott made light of the strong cross-field wind to open the scoring after just 49 seconds. Aoife Darcy levelled from a free, but Longford wouldn’t raise another white flag until the 47th minute as a hungry and focused Offaly seized complete control. Saorah Doyle gave them a lead they wouldn’t surrender after Emma Hand had made the initial break in the fourth minute before the raiding Nicole Buckley and Doyle, with one of her trademark frees off the ground, also split the posts.
There was no respite for Longford – who were without key forward Katie Crawford – as Offaly continued to pile forward and rack up the scores. The busy McDermott fisted over her second in the 14th minute before Doyle converted two close-in frees. Emma Maher, Caoimhe Lynam and Meabh Rouse also got in on the scoring act to leave the Faithful 0-10 to 0-1 up after 26 minutes.
Aoife Darcy had the ball in the Offaly net four minutes later, but the whistle had already sounded for a free-in and the same player’s attempt for a goal from same was blocked. McDermott and Maebh Coll added two more points before Emma Hand fielded a kickout and soloed through the middle to score the opening goal via the underside of the crossbar in the 34th minute.
To their credit, Longford immediately hit back with a lobbed goal from substitute Shauna Madden, but there was still time for Maher and Doyle to tag on further points and leave the hosts 13 to the good at the break.
Three of the first five points of the second half were brilliant Maher efforts from distance, with Doyle registering the other two, one from a free. Darcy finally ended Longford’s long wait for a second point, only for McDermott to instantly cancel it out.
With the game long over as a contest, substitute Mia Lynn grabbed a pair of consolation goals for the visitors in the 51st and 54th minutes, either side of another Doyle free. Maire Byrne completed the scoring for a rampant Offaly before Doyle and Shauna Madden missed goal chances at either end.
Footnote: A moment’s silence was observed before the throw-in as a mark of respect to Ballycumber man James Ennis, who passed away during the week and was an uncle of Offaly captain Róisín Ennis.
Scorers – Offaly: Saorah Doyle 0-8 (6fs), Emma Maher 0-5, Faith McDermott 0-4, Emma Hand 1-0, Meabh Rouse, Nicole Buckley, Maebh Coll, Marie Byrne and Caoimhe Lynam 0-1 each. Longford: Mia Lynn 2-0, Shauna Madden 1-0, Aoife Darcy 0-2 (1f).
Teams – Offaly: Lauren Dunne (Rhode); Sasha Coleman (Naomh Ciarán), Jane Maher (Ballinamere/Durrow), Brooke McDermott (Ballinamere/Durrow); Nicole Buckley (Naomh Ciarán), Róisín Ennis (Naomh Ciarán, captain), Saoirse McGuinness (St Manchan’s); Meabh Rouse (Tullamore), Emma Hand (Ballinamere/Durrow); Faith McDermott (Ballinamere/Durrow), Emma Maher (Naomh Ciarán), Maebh Coll (Tullamore); Marie Byrne (St Conleth’s), Saorah Doyle (Ballinamere/Durrow), Caoimhe Lynam (St Manchan’s). Subs: Hannah Doolan (St Manchan’s) for Lynam (45 min), Tara Tyrrell (Edenderry) for Rouse (42 min), Fiona Dempsey (Naomh Molaoise) for McGuinness (55 min), Éabha Mai Tierney (St Manchan’s) for B McDermott (55 min), Chloe Smith (Rhode) for Maher (60 min).
Longford: Aoife Cooney; Aisling Scanlon, Leanne Keegan, Emma Doris; Emma Bleakley, Sorcha Dawson, Emma Farrell; Sián Gallagher (captain), Funmi Talabi; Aoife Darcy, Zara Drake, Ailbhe Brady; Katherine Kilduff, Kamille Burke, Ailbhe Mulligan. Subs: Shauna Madden for Scanlon (25 min, injured), Aoibhinn O’Brien for Talabi (33 min, injured), Mia Lyons for Kilduff (half-time), Riane McGrath for Drake (57 min).
Referee – Henri Clifford (Meath).
Player of the Match: Nicole Buckley was superb in both defence and attack, and gets the nod over her Offaly team-mates Emma Hand, Faith McDermott and Emma Maher.
Referee Watch: Henri Clifford had a good game, but Offaly will question his decision to disallow Saorah Doyle’s second half goal. They will also feel that one of their players was fouled in the build-up to Longford’s second goal.
Moment of the Match: Emma Hand’s 34th minute goal put the game well and truly beyond a disappointing Longford side.
Venue Watch: The Glenisk O’Connor Park pitch was in excellent condition as usual.
Statistics
Wides – Offaly: 12 (5 in first half); Longford 4 (1 in first half);
Yellow cards: None; Red cards: None.