Offaly ladies bow out despite Derry win

An excellent win over a previously unbeaten Derry at a blustery Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park last Sunday afternoon proved to be all in vain for the Offaly ladies footballers after they were cruelly knocked out of the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship on scoring difference.

LGFA TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Group A Round 5

Offaly 1-11

Derry 2-5

Despite finishing their Group A campaign with three wins from four and level on points with Antrim and Derry, the Faithful missed out on a semi-final spot as the two Ulster sides progressed. Antrim made sure of their place in the last-four with a 67-point mauling of Kilkenny on the same afternoon.

After a torrid 2025, Offaly turned a corner under manager Gavan Doyle this year and can be very proud of their performances throughout the season. Several young players were blooded, including Sasha Coleman, Lucy Flynn and Aoibhinn Slattery, who was outstanding in goals in just her second championship appearance. They have plenty to build on as thoughts now turn to the club championships.

Ultimately, a 15-point defeat to Antrim in the opening round cost Offaly, who rebounded with wins over Longford, Kilkenny and Derry. The Oak Leafers’ surprise victory over Antrim was another big reason why the Faithful came up just short.

Offaly were full value for their three-point win last weekend and would have won by more had they not registered eight wides compared to Derry’s three. They also had the greater spread of scorers, but still needed 17-year-old Slattery to be at her best between the posts.

The foundations for victory were laid in the first half when Offaly led by 1-6 to 1-4 after playing against a strong wind. They extended their advantage to 1-9 to 1-4 in a slow-burning second period before a quickfire 1-1 from the visitors reduced the deficit to the minimum and set up a grandstand finish.

But Offaly saw it out with late points from Caoimhe Lynam and Emma Hand to end the season on a winning note.

A trademark Saorah Doyle free off the ground after Nicole Buckley was fouled gave the hosts an early lead before Buckley doubled their advantage after taking a return pass from Lynam. Annie Ní Lochlainn, who accounted for all of Derry’s points, got them off the mark in the sixth minute. Moments later, the Oak Leafers were in front when midfielder Sarah Heron netted after Jeanette Slevin’s initial shot was blocked by Slattery.

Faith McDermott had a shot tipped over at the other end before Ní Lochlainn boomed over a two-point free to leave the visitors 1-3 to 0-3 ahead after 10 minutes. Caoimhe Lynam and Ní Lochlainn traded scores before Saoirse McGuinness kicked a beauty over her shoulder and then a Marie Byrne effort from distance dropped into the roof of the net to edge the winners back into a 1-5 to 1-4 lead after 20 minutes.

Róisín Ennis, who has deputised for the injured Michele Mann as captain in recent games, won the resultant kickout and set up Doyle for another point for what proved to be the final score of the half. Derry almost got in for a goal just before the short whistle, but Slattery denied Áine McAlister at the expense of a ’45 – which came to nothing – after saving Anna Donnelly’s fisted effort in the same move.

The rookie ‘keeper also pulled off saves from Niamh Hannon and Ní Lochlainn after the restart before half-time substitute Emma Maher settled Offaly with a well-taken point in the 42nd minute after Ennis had shaken off the effects of a shoulder injury to set her up.

Derry were reduced to 14 players two minutes later when Clodagh Moore was sin-binned for a heavy challenge on Nicole Buckley before Anna Donnelly posted their first wide under pressure from the Naomh Ciarán stalwart.

The Offaly defence stood firm as they came under sustained Derry pressure before Caoimhe Lynam lifted the siege with a breakaway point in the 52nd minute. When Saorah Doyle’s follow-up score made it 1-9 to 1-4, it was hard to see a way back for Derry, but a 57th minute goal from lively substitute Brannagh Brolly and Ní Lochlainn’s fifth point from the ensuing kickout brought it down to the wire.

But Offaly showed great composure to get out with a win thanks to late scores from Lynam and Emma Hand. Derry, who needed to avoid a 16-point defeat to qualify for the semi-finals, came in search of an equalising goal in the fifth minute of injury-time, but Ní Lochlainn’s free into the square was fielded by Hand and the final whistle sounded moments later, bringing with it a mixture of delight, relief and disappointment for the Faithful.

MATCH ANALYSIS

SEE NEXT: Offaly fall just short against Clare but survive in top tier

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Aoibhinn Slattery (Offaly). The Kilcormac/Killoughey goalkeeper belied her tender years with an excellent and assured performance. The old guard of Róisín Ennis, Anna Grehan, Nicole Buckley and half-time substitute Emma Maher also impressed for the winners.

THE SCORERS

Offaly: Marie Byrne 1-0, Caoimhe Lynam and Saorah Doyle (1f) 0-3 each, Faith McDermott, Saoirse McGuinness, Emma Maher, Nicole Buckley and Emma Hand 0-1 each.

Derry: Annie Ní Lochlainn 0-5 (1 x 2ptf), Sarah Heron and Brannagh Brolly 1-0 each.

THE TEAMS

Offaly: Aoibhinn Slattery (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Sasha Coleman (Naomh Ciarán), Brooke McDermott (Ballinamere/Durrow), Anna Grehan (Naomh Ciarán); Jane Maher (Ballinamere/Durrow), Róisín Ennis (Naomh Ciarán), Nicole Buckley (Naomh Ciarán); Emma Hand (Ballinamere/Durrow), Meabh Rouse (Tullamore); Saoirse McGuinness (St Manchan’s), Marie Byrne (St Conleth’s, Laois), Faith McDermott (Ballinamere/Durrow); Caoimhe Lynam (St Manchan’s), Lucy Flynn (Naomh Ciarán), Saorah Doyle (Ballinamere/Durrow). Subs: Emma Maher (Naomh Ciarán) for F McDermott (half-time), Kara Daly (St Manchan’s) for Buckley (50 min), Tara Tyrrell (Edenderry) for Maher (50 min), Isabelle Liu Lyons (Edenderry) for Flynn (50 min), Fiona Dempsey for McGuinness (55 min).

Derry: Thomasina Cassidy; Niamh Hannon, Sarah Hargan, Joanne Corr; Anna Donnelly, Blaíthín Donnelly, Sorcha Duggan; Sarah Heron, Kate Hargan; Clodagh Moore, Cara Donnelly, Annie Ní Lochlainn; Áine McAlister, Leah Brewster, Jeanette Slevin. Subs: Brannagh Brolly for Heron (39 min), Rhianna Doherty for Duggan (64 min).

Referee – Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Marie Byrne’s somewhat fortuitous 20th minute goal from Saoirse McGuinness’ pass gave Offaly a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

REFEREE WATCH

Aaron Clogher had a good game, even if some of the stoppages for Derry injuries in the first half frustrated Offaly supporters.

VENUE WATCH

While it seemed a strange choice of venue for a game involving an Offaly football team, Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park was in tip-top shape after also hosting hurling and camogie fixtures over the weekend.

What’s next: Derry advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals, while Offaly’s season is over.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly – 8 (5 in first half); Derry – 3 (0 in first half)

Yellow cards: Derry – 1 (Clodagh Moore); Offaly – 0.

Red cards: 0.