Offaly take positives from narrow defeat in Division 1 clash
A disappointing result but encouraging signs for Offaly Camogie in an exciting league match against Down on Saturday afternoon in Laitroim Fontenony's GAA Grounds.
Down 2-11
Offaly 3-6
Offaly will feel this game was the one that got away from them. For most of the game they were the better team and showed lots of resilience when Down put up a determined challenge in the second half. It was a fluid first half performance from Offa y with some lovely passing movements between Offaly forwards and midfield. Mairead Teehan was in top form and helping herself to a goal and another from Birr’s Sarah Harding meant Offaly went in at half time with a two point lead with the scoreboard reading Down 1-05 Offaly 2-04.
A controversial penalty early in the second half was a crucial moment of the game. Sarah Walsh was deemed to have fouled Niamh Mallon in the square when it seemed that it was the Down player that was pulling back the Offaly number 5. The resulting penalty was cleanly hit to the back of the net and this seemed to spur on the Down team for the rest of the second half. Offaly did reply with a goal of their own with some great play from Aisling Brennan but unfortunately despite having a lot of possession Offaly were unable to close the two point lead that Down had built.
Offaly have yet to have a full panel for this campaign but manager Susan Earner was happy to welcome back Roisin Egan and Louise Mannion from St Rynagh's after their All Ireland Club Final win. Shinrone’s Sharon Shanahan has hit with injury problems but played for 20 minutes of the second half and looked back to her impressive self.
Offaly will now face Galway in their final match of league round on 27th March, however a relegation play off is now a certainty for them against either Limerick or Clare.
Offaly scorers: Mairead Teehan 1-5, Sarah Harding 1-1, Aisling Brennan 1-0.
Offaly team: Eleanor Clendennen, Sarah Guinan, Aisling Feeney, Siobhan Killeen, Sarah Walshe, Aisling Brennan, Edwina King, Kaitlyn Kennedy, Mairead Teehan, Jane Lowry, Christine Cleary, Orla Gorman, Clodagh Leahy, Sarah Harding, Catriona Doughan. Substitutions: Roisin Egan for Siobhan Killeen, Louise Mannion for Clodagh Leahy and Sharon Shanahan for Catriona Doughan.