Offaly's Leinster final ambitions on life support after Wexford defeat
Following on from their draw with Westmeath in Round 1 the Offaly Ladies made the long trip to Enniscorthy on Sunday last for round 2 of the Leinster championship, and it was far from a sunny performance in the South East for the Faithful ladies.
TG4 Leinster Ladies Football Intermediate Championship Round 2
Wexford 1-13
Offaly 0-4
This defeat leaves Greg Farrelly's charges hopes of reaching the Leinster final hanging on by a thread and will need a lot of things to go right for them, along with plenty of Lady Luck elsewhere, next Sunday in order to make the finals day.
There are four teams, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow being the other three with Offaly in the Intermediate competition being played as a round robin competition and the top two reaching the final. Offaly will need the all ready qualified Wexford to defeat Westmeath next Sunday and a home win for themselves as they welcome Wicklow to Glenisk O’Connor Park in order to allow any chance of qualification and it will all then come down to scoring difference among the teams.
Offaly could have made life a lot easier for themselves on Sunday last but ultimately never got moving at all in what was to be a very optimistic day but their display and will to win that they had in round one just did not seem to be there. Wexford on the other hand had victory on their minds from the get go and never really looked like a team who were going to loose this one.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze it was the home side got off to the best possible start and points from Aoife Cullen and wing back Ciara Banville settled their side into this game after three minutes.
Both teams exchanged a number of wides in the following moments before the reliable Cullen got her second of the afternoon in the twelfth minute, this time from a close range free.
Caoilfhoinn Ní Nuallaín and Roisin Hughes got themselves in on the scoring act either side of a second Cullen free, leaving the home side six points to no score to the good after twenty minutes of action.
Late starter Chloe Fox made it seven minutes later before Offaly finally got off the mark on twenty nine minutes when team captain Ellee McEvoy pointed from a free to reduce the gap to six at the half way point.
The visitors would have been relieved to get in and try and reset for the the second period and looked like a team who meant business in the opening few minutes of the second half, creating some excellent opportunities but only managed a solidarity point, a second McEvoy free, from four shots at the Wexford posts.
At the other end of the park the home team were making every opportunity count with two in a row from Chloe Fox before centre forward Kellie Kearney opened pushed their side even further in front making the comeback task almost impossible for the Offaly ladies.
Offaly managed to pull one back through Emma Hand but that was to be her side's only score from play in the game.
Trailing 0-11 to 0-3 on the forty minute mark any hope of an Offaly resurgence was firmly put to bed when Roisin Murphy ran through the heart of the Offaly defence before finishing excellently to the back of the net ultimately sealing the win.
Cullen and Kearney pointed late scores before a free deep in injury time from the boot of Ellee McEvoy reducing the gap to twelve as the full time whistle was sounded.
MATCH ANALYSIS
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Chloe Fox (Wexford): While Kellie Kearney, Róisin Murphy, Aoife Cullen and Ciara Banville could all have strong claims here, Chloe Fox gets the nod.
A late starter for the home side, Fox was really lovely chipping in with some fine scores and causing Offaly a lot of problems throughout.
For Offaly the only real contender was Emma Maher who tried very hard and gave it all she had over the hour.
THE TEAMS
Wexford: Sadbh McCarthy; Katie English, Maria Byrne, Amanda Power; Ciara Banville, Aisling Halligan, Sarah Harding-Kenny; Roisin Murphy (capt), Clara Donnelly; Roisin Hughes, Kellie Kearney, Aoife Cullen; Caoilfhoinn NíNuallain, Chloe Fox, Catriona Murray. Subs: Grace Donovan for Caoilfhoinn NiNuallain (41), Beibhinn McDonald for Roisin Hughes (47), Ciara Roben for Catriona Murray (56), Tara Doyle for Clara Donnelly and Orlaith Byrne for Kellie Kearney (58),
Offaly: Lauren Dunne (Rhode); Anna Grehan (Naomh Ciaran), Michelle Mann (Naomh Molaoise), Nicole Buckley (Naomh Ciaran); Nicole Farrelly (Edenderry), Emma Maher (Naomh Ciaran), Róisin Ennis (Naomh Ciaran); Amy Gavin-Mangan (Naomh Ciaran), Maebh Rouse (Tullamore); Ciara Walsh (Naomh Molaoise), Marie Byrne (St Conleths), Kiah Farrelly (Edenderry); Ellee McEvoy (Naomh Ciaran), Emma Hand (Ballinamere/Durrow), Chloe Sheridan (Clara). Subs: Claire O’Brien (Tullamore) for Ciara Walsh HT, Róisín Cockram (Naomh Ciaran) for Chloe Sheridan and Caoimhe Lynam (St Manchans) for Emma Hand 50min, Saoirse McGuinness (St Manchans) for Kiah Farrelly 53min, Fiona Dempsey (Naomh Molaoise) for Amy Gavin Mangan 56
REFEREE WATCH
Kevin Phelan was consistent throughout the game signaling decisions and letting players know what he was doing. Overall wasn’t a factor in the result
VENUE WATCH
Starlights G.A.A. in Enniscorthy was in tip-top condition for this clash, the pitch was immaculate and scoreboard/clock in working order. There were programs available and a nice welcome on arrival for the travelling contingent.
WHAT'S NEXT
Offaly host Wicklow next Sunday in O’Connor Park whilst Wexford go head to head with Westmeath.
THE SCORERS
Wexford: Aoife Cullen 0-5 (3f), Chloe Fox 0-3, Roisin Murphy 1-0, Kellie Kearney 0-2, Ciara Banville, Roisin Hughes , Caoilfhoinn Ní Nuailláin and Grace Donovan 0-1 each
Offaly: Ellee McEvoy 0-3 (frees), Emma Hand 0-1