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Time to get this thread underway, what with the Championship just around the corner . . .

Offaly get their Senior Camogie campaign underway with a home game with Kilkenny on Saturday Week (11th June). Time of writing I’m not sure of the venue but they have used Birr as home venue for their league and Leinster Championship matches this year.

It will be a tough arduous campaign, 7 matches in successive weeks against the top teams in the country. All eight counties play each other in a single group with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals.

The fixture makers have not been kind to Offaly. After that home opener against Kilkenny, Offaly must hit the road for three successive matches, against Tipperary, Dublin and Galway (according the fixtures list on the Offaly camogie site). Only Offaly have to travel three weeks running, and Galway have three home matches at the same time.

In recent years the battle for the four semi-final slots has been fought out between five counties, Wexford, Kilkenny, Galway, Cork and Tipperary. Dublin and Clare have been some way off the pace, and the recent League has borne this out. In theory at least, Offaly will target the Clare and Dublin matches for wins. The Clare match comes at the very end of the campaign though it is at home. Worth noting Offaly enjoyed a big win over Dublin in the recent Leinster Senior championship.

Offaly had a decent run during their League campaign. They drew away to Clare in their first match in a match that might have gone either way, Clare striking for a late goal and the lead but Offaly hit back with two late points to force the draw. They battled hard against Senioer All-Ireland champions Wexford in their only home league game, led by a point at half time having hurled with the wind before Wexford pulled away in the second half with the aid of two goals. Offaly travelled to Ballinasloe for their final round and almost qualified for the semi-final. Galway rested a number of players who had been on Club All-Ireland duty; Offaly took the game to them and still led late on. Galway were forced to introduce the missing stars and it took a late goal to deny Offaly at the death.

The big change this year has been in goals. Pamela Nugent lined out in goals during the league and Michelle Gleeson took over for the Leinster championship. Gleeson is a talented hurler and would have the makings of a centre half-forward, though she lacks stamina. The full back line is unchanged where Lorraine Keena is doing very well at full-back. Debbie Flynn has slotted into the half-back line in recent weeks allowing Linda Sullivan move to the forwards.

If anything, the most impressive aspect of the big win over Dublin was that it was achieved in the absence of Elaine Dermody, the attack leader. Ailsa Hughes, too, has built on an impressive appearance in last year’s Intermediate All-Ireland to force her way into the forward line.

Of course, Michaela Morkan remains the star of the team. She led her College in the Ashbourne Cup during the winter and, if anything, is hurling better against the better, Senior opposition. Morkan’s anticipation and reading of the game is sublime – comparisons with Brian Whelahan in his prime are not exaggerated and she is arguably the best hurler in the county at the moment.

Another change sees Offaly enter a reserve team for the first time. They line out in the Junior a championship and will give some fringe players a chance to line out in inter-county competition and the opportunity to show leadership.

There are no certainties in sport but this is a team that always seems to give 100% on and off the field. Offaly’s first Senior match would be well worth a visit if you haven’t been to see them before..

Offaly’s Senior fixtures:-
11th June v Kilkenny (h)
18th June v Tipperary (a)
25th June v Dublin (a)
2nd July v Galway (a)
9th July v Cork (h)
16th July v Wexford (a)
23rd July v Clare (h)

once they are not on the good pitch i dont mind....

Offaly playing Kilkenny in Birr on Saturday at 2.30pm.

'Tis a Tenner to get in, per the Offaly Camogie site, students and pensioners a Fiver and U16 are free.
http://offalycamogie.ie/

Will it be black-tie?

High School Musical wrote:Will it be black-tie?

Depends on whether you're going to watch the game or to impress the women I suppose.

Lone Shark wrote:

High School Musical wrote:Will it be black-tie?

Depends on whether you're going to watch the game or to impress the women I suppose.

You could probably do both!

Seeing that people in the County won't come out and support our hurlers and footballers id say the chances of getting support for a camogie game are fairly remote.

The goals killed ‘em, not just that Kilkenny scored 4 goals, but the opportune time they arrived at. The first, after about 10 minutes just as it seemed Offaly had weathered an early storm, helped Kilkenny to a 1-5 to 0-2 lead after about 15 minutes. Sheila Sullivan and Tina Hannon came into it, the latter pouncing on a Kilkenny error to score a fine goal to bring Offaly back into it as Offaly’s possession yielded the frees and they were only a point behind, 1-6 to 1-5.

Cue Kilkenny’s second goal and the visitors ended the half the stronger for a 2-9 to 1-7 lead. Offaly had the wind in the 2nd half but Kilkenny opened the half with a third goal. Offaly replied with three points but Kilkenny hit back with a fourth goal with about 20 minutes still to go.

Offaly continued to battle and Kilkenny were content to foul outfield to protect the goal-line. Offaly did get in for a 20m free, Elaine Dermody’s strike was blocked but Michaela Morkan buried the rebound and it was something like 4-12 to 2-11.

Offaly had plenty of possession in the final quarter and pushed Michaela Morkan further into attack. They forced two more goalscoring chances, Morkan’s 25m free and penalty both being blocked and Kilkenny closed it out with late points. Siobhán Flannery was sent off late in the game for a late frontal charge when already on a yellow card. Any sympathy for her was probably eroded when she broke her hurl across her thigh as she left the field!

In several respects, a 12 point winning margin adequately reflects Kilkenny’s greater craft when in possession and how well they used that possession. Kilkenny made better pace for themselves in attack too, and Karen Nugent and Lorraine Keena was given a torrid time, though Keena steadied as it went on while Fiona Stephens did some good hurling.

Still Offaly got on enough ball during both the middle of the first half and the period after Kilkenny’s 4th goal that the deserved better. Being forced to go for goals to save the match kept the scoring rate down when the might have finished with 2-16 or the like. Breaking up a winning half-back line mightn't have been the brightest idea in the world either, as Sheila Sullivan lined out at midfield and Linda Sullivan in attack.

Elsewhere, according to Aertel, Galway had a surprise win away to Wexford, winning 2-14 to 0-9. From the same source, Cork beat Clare 3-16 to 0-10 in Clare, and Tipperary had a 3-12 to 0-12 win away to Dublin.

Today’s Senior results:-

Tipperary 3-14 Offaly 1-14
Cork 1-8 Wexford 0-14
Galway 1-10 Clare 1-7
Kilkenny 1-12 Clare 1-2

I wasn’t in Thurles, but again Offaly clocked up the biggest losing margin, but conceded the biggest winning margin. Tipperary led something like 3-8 to 1-11 at half-time, with the radio saying some terrible defensive errors costing Offaly dear.

Part encouraging though, that they held Tipperary point-for-point in the second half. They really need to get a win under their belts and they have Dublin up next.

Just saw the highlights on sunday game, the 3 goals were shockin mistakes from the goalie! Felt sorry for her...she got subbed in the end. Only 6 points in it in the end, Offaly could easily have won this game

I was at the match last saturday, and all I can say is how disappointing the goals were. Poor Michelle Gleeson, did feel very sorry for her and after the first soft goal went in her confidence was shattered. management made the right decision substituting her before half time. We were the better team in the first half but those soft goals gave Offaly a mountain to climb, but they battled on and ended up losing by 6 points in the end.

Overall, Offaly did not play to their full potential. they seemed very slow to the ball. some of the Offaly team tend to run with the ball, particularly the midfielders and half back line rather than delivering quality ball into the forwardline.They tend to get closed down very quickly and give away possession. They are not as fit and fast as other senior teams but this is something that they can work around by delivering good quality ball into their dangerous fullforward line.

A few players stood, Lorraine Keena and Fiona Stephens were excellent in the backline, Michaela Morkam started at centre back and was switched with Sheila Sullivan to the middle of the field. Both had solid games in both positions. In the forward line, Elaine Dermody was deadly accurate with the frees and some nice points were popped over by the forwards. Linda Sullivan was the goal scorer after a shot from Ailsa Hughes was saved and Linda pulled on it into the back of the net.

On a positive note it was great seeing such support for our camogies in Thurles, and despite being a home game for them, we easily outnumbered the Tipperary supporters.

Next up for our camogie team is on Saturday against Dublin in Portmarnock. Game is at 3. I imagine most people will be in Cork/Tullamore so will try to get a good match report together.

Good luck to our camogie team who face Dublin today in Portmarnock.

Having beaten the dubs already this year, we should be looking for a win here.

Game is at 3

Great result for Offaly today on a scoreline of Offaly 2-15 Dublin 14 points!

Just goes to prove hard work pays off,congrats to all involved!

Well done to the girls and the management, it's always nice to pass significant milestones and a first win at senior level is a huge mark on the continued road of progress for these ladies.

It is beginning to look like a place in the semi finals will be hard to secure - Clare are in good form meaning that Offaly will probably be outsiders in every game from now until the end, while that game against Tipperary could turn out to be the missed opportunity, they look like the most vulnerable of the big guns. Having said that Offaly gave Galway a real close run in the league earlier this year and the relatively short trip to Ballinasloe this Saturday could yet throw up a surprise. Since their shock win over Wexford in the first round, Galway haven't really hit the form that they found in 2010 and a win here could set up some very interesting games in the closing rounds.

I don't think I have any work assignments on Saturday afternoon, at least none yet, so hopefully I should be able to make the spin over, and anyone with the few hours free should try and do the same - certainly the team have earned our support several times over by now.

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.