'We wanted to change the belief within the group'

Offaly joint-manager Danny McGarvey says his team has achieved their first aim this year in winning Division 4 of the Lidl Ladies National Football League.

Donegal native McGarvey and Brian Ó Ruairc joined up with Offaly in November and they had their first major success when their side got the better of Limerick at St Brendan’s Park last Sunday.

Ellee McEvoy scored 1-4 and further goals from Ciara Walsh and Emma Hand sealed victory for the home side in Birr.

“The first goal on our list from the start of the year was to win the league and get out of Division 4, it’s a great feeling,” said McGarvey.

“The girls have put in such work since the start of the year and they’ve tremendous talent in the team. They deserve to be playing at least in Division 3 if not higher.

“The biggest thing we wanted to change was the belief within the group. They have the talent, maybe they just needed more self-confidence and belief in themselves that they can mix it with any team.

“We haven’t reinvented the wheel or anything like that, we have just gone back to basics.”

Limerick had already beaten Offaly 3-4 to 1-6 earlier in the campaign but in a repeat of the 2015 Division 4 final, the intermediate side came out on top.

The Treaty County ladies took a narrow 3-1 to 0-9 lead into half-time after first-half goals from Catriona Davis and Iris Kennelly (two).

However, goals from Hand, Walsh and McEvoy gave Offaly a 3-11 to 3-4 lead at the second water break. Cathy Mee added Limerick’s fourth goal but there was no way back.

“Of course, we are disappointed, we came up to win,” said Limerick manager Graham Shine.

“We’ve won our four games and come up to the final and fallen short. All credit to Offaly, they have experience, they are an intermediate team and our girls will learn and will grow from it and we will refocus for the championship.”

- Aisling Clery