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A journey into the unknown for the Offaly girls on Saturday. Not so much about the opposition but about themselves.

It’s been quite a while since their last competitive game – the last week of June in fact, before the weather broke. When compared to the Senior championship (which gave 6 group matches over 7 weeks) the Intermediate championship gave teams scant chance to gain momentum.

Then there’s a concern as to just how well Offaly are playing. Looking at their results the group they were in was lobsided with Wexford and Offaly considerably stronger than Kilkenny and Galway. Offaly freshened up the team after the first-round defeat to Wexford with a few changes which paid dividends as a hungry Offaly saw off Galway a week later.

While training and challenge matches are good practice, they can be misleading when assessing the form of fringe players – instance Waterford’s gamble on Brian O’Halloran leading to a dud betting slip.

Derry could be considered to be two years ahead of Offaly in their development. They were the team who beat Clare with a late goal in the 2007 Junior final (Clare’s motivation for winning the Junior title beating Offaly a year later). They were the form team in June and topped a competitive group despite playing all their matches at neutral venues.

The carrot of playing the Intermediate final in Croke Park will add extra spice though, and playing at an Inter-county ground like Clones is infinitely better than playing on a cabbage-patch in rural Cavan, where the semi-final was originally fixed.

Looking forward, going to Senior level is a target of this Offaly team. Thing is, are they really ready to move up to the bear-pit that is Senior camogie? Results against other Senior teams is not encouraging and perhaps the match Offaly should have targeted this year was the League final which offered a chance to play the top teams in wintertime – a stepping stone to playing them in summer.

Still, with Wexford having Offaly’s number and Limerick having played at Senior level for some years the winner of the other semi-final will likely be favourites to win it out. Time will tell. Hopefully Offaly can at least get to the final and give themselves a fighting chance of a title win.

Herewith the four semi-finalists’ form in the group stages: -
Offaly: lost to Wexford 1-8 to 1-10, beat Galway 2-20 to 2-8 and beat Kilkenny 2-17 to 1-5.
Derry: beat Tipperary 4-17 to 4-7, beat Limerick 2-8 to 0-11 and beat Cork 1-17 to 1-9.
Wexford: beat Offaly 1-10 to 1-8, beat Kilkenny 4-20 to 0-6 and beat Galway 6-5 to 1-6.
Limerick: drew with Cork 2-7 each, lost to Derry 0-11 to 2-8 and beat Tipperary 2-12 to 0-5.

Best of luck to the ladies!!!

COME ON OFFALY!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like a hard-fought win for the girls. Seems they led by 6 midway through, Derry pulled it back to two but Offaly held on.

I just heard Seamus Whelan's interviews on the radio and when the interviewer says something like "Jaysus that was a great win" with a quiver in his voice then it must have been a mighty one.

Croke Park awaits, and another rematch with Wexford, who beat Limerick by two points in the other semi-final.

Outstanding news!

Onward to the final!

Given they’ve been playing together for three years now Offaly are in good form in advance of this final. While there were some experiments the first year, the team is much more settled down now, to the point where the team practically picks itself. Always a good place to be.

Audrey Kennedy has made some terrific saves during the year, even blocking handpassed goal efforts betimes. The full-back line of Fiona Stephens, Lorraine Keena and Karen Brady is well settled after some experimenting in the last line of defence two years ago.

A gifted hurler who always seems to be where the ball lands, Michaela Morkan is arguably the best hurler in Offaly, man or woman. Wing-back Sheila Sullivan, who missed the league final through injury, is back hurling well while Linda Sullivan has recently rediscovered good form.

The midfield and forwards tend to be interchangeable, which offers options. Marion Crean, now settled at midfield after spells in defence, is partnered by Emma Dunne who has forced her way into the team this year. Elaine Dermody leads the attack where she, Arlene Watkins, Siobhan Flannery and Tina Hannon offer a scoring threat.

There was pressure on Offaly in last year’s Junior final, however they hit the ground running that day and romped home. When Offaly were pipped by Wexford in the League final it appeared they had one eye on the championship encounter. However, when Wexford repeated the dose in that first round it seemed the show was over. A few changes to the team freshened up the side and they enjoyed big wins over Galway and Kilkenny.

Since then, Wexford have lost five of their team to the Senior side, which could prove critical. Even still, they came through a hard-fought semi-final with a narrow win over Limerick Heads right, hurling well, owing Wexford a beating (or two) at this stage, the scene is set for Offaly to claim the title.

The vital ingredients are there. I think they’ll do it. Good luck to all involved.

Best of luck girls, really proud of what's being done in that group of players.

best of luck sunday, especially to all the girls from drumcullen. hope to see a big crowd there supporting

Show us how its done ladies!!!!!!!

GO ON OFFALY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Kevin,

You may be aware, but the ex-pats will be interested to know the match is shown worldwide on the RTE site. Throws in at 2pm BST.

Kevin wrote:Show us how its done ladies!!!!!!!

GO ON OFFALY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Team for tomorrow was named last night, nearly the same as what POTH has posted, except for Karen Nugent making her way back into the team in place of Emma Dunne.

Best of luck to the girls, hopefully we will see another night in Birr with some silverware!

Thanks for that POTH, was not aware. Will check it out.

Early on Offaly 1-5 Wexford 0-0

Go girls go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had to run out.

Can someone post the final result here when they get a chance?

Kevin wrote:Had to run out.

Can someone post the final result here when they get a chance?

Offaly held on to win 2-12 to 2-9

Thank you Turk.

OUTSTANDING!!!!

Congrats to all involved in these back to back successes.

GREAT NEWS!!!