The Camogie thread 2011

[small paralellogram]

A fine display in the first half gave offaly a commanding lead in the game against dublin. More movement in the forward line meant that there was more space created and more options available to players in possession. This is somethign which is a main trait of senior camogie and this type of forward play in offaly works quite well as hannon and watkins are lightening fast.

The backs seemed more committed this week also, they were not afraid to attack approaching forwards and this meant that dublin faced many handling errors and offaly capitalised on this, fine displays by keena and stephens showed the fine skill offaly possess all over the field.

Goals win games was the motto which joachim kelly stated after teh tipperary and it was sweet that offaly were able to take their opportunities well in Dublin. You will see none better than the goals scored by watkins, both for her own contribution and her commrades, it was top class.

At the other end, Nugent made a fine save from the penalty effort, but even better was her save from the dublin centr forward who found herself free on the 13 yard line and blasted to the top corner, whcih Nugent magnificently saved.

Onwards and upwards whcould be the motto of the panel this week, as they have nothing to lose facing Galway and the fear of defeat has been banished with the win in the capital.

[dom]

great win for our girls alright, a great team performance as well as some fantastic individual performances. worth a mention are Pamela Nugent in goals, Fiona Stephens, Lorraine Keena, Michaela Morkam, Elaine Dermody, Siobhan Flannery and Arlene Watkins, who got 2 fantastic goals.

They were outstanding in the first half, and played against the wind in the second half where they found it harder to score. While I have thee greatest of respect for Joakim Kelly and his management team, they have done absolutely fantastic work with the team, I think that they make far too many changes. They should leave the team as they are when they are doing well and only make switches only if they need to. At the end of the first half they had michaela in full forward and moved Arlene out. Arlene is a fantastic goal scorer and had proved that up until then. They did the same thing in the Tipp game, I think they moved Michaela 5 or 6 times that day. She is a fantastic player who hurls best at centre back or midfield. She is wasted at full forward in my opinion. its not just her that they switch regularly, the rest of the team are moved around a lot. They should leave a winning team as it is.

[dom]

Change of venue for the Galway game on saturday, it is now on in Pearse Stadium at 5, before the Galway v Clare hurling match.


Highlights will also be shown of this game on the Sunday game.

[Plain of the Herbs]

A pity about that change of venue. I would have been able to go to Ballinasloe but won't now be able to make the trip.

And a big thanks to dom and parallelogram for the reports. Sounds like a good performance in Dublin in what was a pressure match.

Change of venue for the Galway game on saturday, it is now on in Pearse Stadium at 5, before the Galway v Clare hurling match.

Highlights will also be shown of this game on the Sunday game.

[dom]

I am in the same boat POTH, hopefully will still be able to make it but makes things a little bit more difficult for me. Ballinasloe was a perfect venue, not too far for us to travel. The only thing is that those going will probably stay for the hurling too. Hopefully it will be a good game.

Galway will have a lot of support, especially towards the end of the game with those arriving for the hurling so hopefully those who can make it will travel from Offaly.

[small paralellogram]

Offaly travelled to Galway this saturday with high hopes following their first championship win a week previous. A change of venue from ballinasloe to Salthill was suspected to be a move by the tribeswomen to unsettle the faithful outfit. The game was the opener to the much awaited Galway V Clare Hurling Qualifier.

Pearse stadium was in fantastic condition and the sun shone as the offaly ladies entered the field. Offaly started with what seemed to be a nervous disposition, which saw the forwards fumbling and the backs rushing in to give away some dubious frees. It was one of these early free's which say its way past Pamela Nugent in the offaly goal for what seemed should ahve been a saveable shot. Galway now took the game to offaly and pointed from play and free's from all angles. Offaly made their way back into the game with an excellently executed goal from Arlene Watkins. There were a number of Galways attacks foiled by great interceptions and flicks from the hurls of Michaela Morkan, Fiona Stephens and Lorraine Keena which averted would have surely been scores for the tribeswomen. Elaine Dermody pointed two free's, but the forwards were having no luck attacking and the ball was swept up by Galway defenders with ease at times.
Half time showed a scoreline of Galway 1-15 to Offaly 1-2.

I can only imagine what the atmosphere was like in the offaly dressing room at half time and what words may ahve been spoken, but it would have to be along the lines of damage limitation, and proving that the first half performance ws not the sum of offalys skill and commitment.

the second half started with great intensity and to offalys credit, thye seemed to up a gear or two and play with more penache. there was more movement, more commitment to tackling and all this against a very still breeze. Offaly held Galway well, but there was still alot of fouling in the offaly backline which gave galway free shooting opportunities which they converted with ease. This second half was a fighting performance by the faithful ladies and proved yet again why they deserve to be competing at the highest level. A goal by wing back Marian Crean was richly deserved for offalys brave efforts and 2 saves by Pamela Nugent in the offaly goals on what seemed unstoppable shots gave the offaly team a lift when needed.

Offaly can be congratualted for their fine effort in the second half which saw them hold galway to 5 points from play. they showed great honesty in chasing every ball and supporting each other. There was mucg more possession for offaly in the second half but it still seems that offaly do not possess the fire power up front that other teams have in abundance. Arlene Watkins and Elaine Dermody are holding their own but more is required of Siobhan Flannery and Aoife Kelly and others. The same substitutes seemed to be repeatedly used for offaly and they are not making an impact.

Again its another week for offaly to get things together before a home draw to Cork in Birr at 1pm next saturday. The test of the 4 games in four weeks seems to be affecting the legs of offaly players as they looked sluggish for the first time all year in Galway. Pamela Nugent, Lorraine Kenna, Fiona Stephens, Marian Crean and Michaela Morkan have settled into roles in the backline. Tina Hannon, Elaine Dermody and Arlene Watkins ahve proved to be steady operators in the forwardline and midfield. What is evident though is that offaly are settling well at senior level and deserve their place, they will be hoping to take points against an in form cork team, but if they play with the passion of the final 30 minutes shown in pearse stadium, anything is possible.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Ouch!

Looks like Galway were fired up after their defeat at home to Cork last weekend. Tipperary's defeat to KIlkenny, coupled with their defeat to Clare last weekend suggests that Tipperary was the match that 'got away' on Offaly. All part of the 'learning process' I supose.

Tipperary still have to face Wexford, Cork and Galway and have a mountain to climb if they are to qualify. Cork, Galway, Kilkenny and Wexford all have 3 wins out of 4 at this stage. Clare have Kilkenny next, but finish up with Dublin and Offaly (in that order) so Clare still stand a decent chance of progressing.

Yet again, thanks for the report, SP.

[dom]

Offaly travelled to Galway this saturday with high hopes following their first championship win a week previous. A change of venue from ballinasloe to Salthill was suspected to be a move by the tribeswomen to unsettle the faithful outfit. The game was the opener to the much awaited Galway V Clare Hurling Qualifier.

Pearse stadium was in fantastic condition and the sun shone as the offaly ladies entered the field. Offaly started with what seemed to be a nervous disposition, which saw the forwards fumbling and the backs rushing in to give away some dubious frees. It was one of these early free's which say its way past Pamela Nugent in the offaly goal for what seemed should ahve been a saveable shot. Galway now took the game to offaly and pointed from play and free's from all angles. Offaly made their way back into the game with an excellently executed goal from Arlene Watkins. There were a number of Galways attacks foiled by great interceptions and flicks from the hurls of Michaela Morkan, Fiona Stephens and Lorraine Keena which averted would have surely been scores for the tribeswomen. Elaine Dermody pointed two free's, but the forwards were having no luck attacking and the ball was swept up by Galway defenders with ease at times.
Half time showed a scoreline of Galway 1-15 to Offaly 1-2.

I can only imagine what the atmosphere was like in the offaly dressing room at half time and what words may ahve been spoken, but it would have to be along the lines of damage limitation, and proving that the first half performance ws not the sum of offalys skill and commitment.

the second half started with great intensity and to offalys credit, thye seemed to up a gear or two and play with more penache. there was more movement, more commitment to tackling and all this against a very still breeze. Offaly held Galway well, but there was still alot of fouling in the offaly backline which gave galway free shooting opportunities which they converted with ease. This second half was a fighting performance by the faithful ladies and proved yet again why they deserve to be competing at the highest level. A goal by wing back Marian Crean was richly deserved for offalys brave efforts and 2 saves by Pamela Nugent in the offaly goals on what seemed unstoppable shots gave the offaly team a lift when needed.

Offaly can be congratualted for their fine effort in the second half which saw them hold galway to 5 points from play. they showed great honesty in chasing every ball and supporting each other. There was mucg more possession for offaly in the second half but it still seems that offaly do not possess the fire power up front that other teams have in abundance. Arlene Watkins and Elaine Dermody are holding their own but more is required of Siobhan Flannery and Aoife Kelly and others. The same substitutes seemed to be repeatedly used for offaly and they are not making an impact.

Again its another week for offaly to get things together before a home draw to Cork in Birr at 1pm next saturday. The test of the 4 games in four weeks seems to be affecting the legs of offaly players as they looked sluggish for the first time all year in Galway. Pamela Nugent, Lorraine Kenna, Fiona Stephens, Marian Crean and Michaela Morkan have settled into roles in the backline. Tina Hannon, Elaine Dermody and Arlene Watkins ahve proved to be steady operators in the forwardline and midfield. What is evident though is that offaly are settling well at senior level and deserve their place, they will be hoping to take points against an in form cork team, but if they play with the passion of the final 30 minutes shown in pearse stadium, anything is possible.

Great report SP, couldnt make the match myself but from what I heard the first goal was from a free on the 21 by Elaine Dermody??

Hopefully the girls can get another win under their belt, Clare could be the team they should set their sights on. Offaly were beaten by Tipp by 6 points, Clare bet Tipp by 5. Now, Offaly could have won the Tipp game, the soft goals were the winning of the game for Tipp. So it is not an impossible task for the team.

[dom]

Next game for the camogies is this Sunday at 1:00pm in Birr against Cork.

[puzzled]

Next game for the camogies is this Sunday at 1:00pm in Birr against Cork.

Think the match is saturday at 1:00pm against Cork with Offaly's junior team playing Tyrone at 2:45!

[dom]

Yea Puzzled, slip up by me , match is on sat

[puzzled]

Next game for the camogies is this Sunday at 1:00pm in Birr against Cork.

Think the match is saturday at 1:00pm against Cork with Offaly's junior team playing Tyrone at 2:45!

The Offaly junior game has been cancelled,Tyrone conceded a walkover!

[Plain of the Herbs]

Frustrating, that. Offaly got a walkover from Carlow last week too.

The Offaly junior game has been cancelled,Tyrone conceded a walkover!

[Plain of the Herbs]

If last week’s defeat to Galway was ‘ouch’, this was ‘ouch, ouch’ with salt in the wound. Cork were just too slick.

Odd thing was, Offaly actually started well. The half-back line of Sullivan-Morkan-Sullivan was restored while Tina Hannon and Marion Crean made early inroads in midfield and Elaine Dermody was much more prominent at centre-forward. Then, with Offaly leading 0-2 to 0-1 and doing well facing Cork’s puckout, Cork scored 2 goals in a minute. Offaly struggled under their own puckout and when Cork added a third around the quarter-hour, Offaly’s heads dropped. Too often, Offaly were content to ‘tap’ the dropping ball 5 metres back towards their own goal, putting Cork on the front foot. Cork led at the break 5-11 to 0-5 ahead.

Offaly made changes at the break, replacing the two Sullivans. Now, while Sheila hadn’t one of her better days, I thought Linda was doing alright. Fired up, Offaly went on the attack straight away and again did well facing Cork’s puckout, and for the third quarter the score tallied something like 0-3 each. An injury to goalkeeper Pamela Nugent proved disastrous however as her replacement Michelle Gleeson’s puckout dropped way too short even with a fresh wind behind her. Cork dominated the final quarter and scored at will in the closing stages.

Tina Hannon certainly caught the eye at midfield for Offaly. Then again, attacking from the 65 to the 45 is the easy part, it gets difficult after that. Marion Crean made a number of fine catches. Newcomer Róisín Coughlan looked decent in attack during the first half. Fuona Stephens, normally a very good corner-back, got little protection from the half-back line.

The other conundrum is, just what is Arlene Watkins’ most effective position on the field? All that pace, yet needs to be facing the goal, so full-forward doesn’t suit. Offaly need her contributong much more.

Two severe beatings in eight days with a trip to Wexford coming down the tracks next week. I do admire the optimism of dom and Small Paralellogram here even in the face of adversity, but morale is bound to have taken a big hit today.

Wins for Cork, Kilkenny, Wexford and Galway yesterday should see those 4 in pole position to advance to the semi-finals (those 4 now have 4 wins from 5) though Clare’s hopes of qualifying rest on Kilkenny losing to Galway (next) and Cork (last) and Clare beating both Dublin (next) and Offaly (last). Clare could well be hungry for a win when they visit Offaly in the last round.

Finally, the Birr pitch was in good order, benefitting from the good drying conditions locally on Friday evening and the bright 'n breezy morning on Saturday morning.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Unfortunately I couldn’t go on Saturday, but it sounds like a good win over Clare was had (3-12 to 1-14). That achievement is all the more admirable given the heavy defeats sustained in recent weeks.

In some respects the target for the year was achieved, that of winning two matches (Clare & Dublin). The biggest regret will be losing out to Tipperary in Thurles. It also means that there is a clear gap between the top four (Wexford, Kilkenny, Cork & Galway) and the rest, and with Offaly, Clare and Tipperary each winning twice, future progress would place Offaly the best of the rest.