Offaly blitz Meath to secure last four place

Offaly blew last year’s beaten finalists Meath away with a stunning display in this Glen Dimplex All-Ireland intermediate camogie championship quarter-final at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles last Saturday.

Becky Bryant got the winners off to a brilliant start with a drilled finish to the net and though Meath's Amy Gaffney replied in kind with a low shot, the Royals were always struggling to hang on to Offaly's coattails.

Grace Teehan, chosen for the player of the match award afterwards, scored Offaly's second goal and though Olivia O’Halloran also raised a green flag for Meath, they were in big trouble at the interval, trailing by 2-13 to 2-1. When Bryant struck for her second goal early in the second half, there was simply no way back for Meath.

Offaly proved the much stronger side throughout and three second-half goals - with Mairead Jennings and Leah Gath adding to Bryant's second - secured the Faithful County a comprehensive win and a place in the semi-finals.

On the day Meath came up against a very sharp Offaly side who are bidding to a return to the senior grade having been relegated 12 months ago.

Offaly are now preparing to face Cork's second team in their All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday, July 27, with Semple Stadium expected to be the venue once again. Kerry, winners over Galway in last weekend's other intermediate quarter-final, will take on Kilkenny in their semi-final.

With Meath struggling to gain any momentum in the early exchanges, Offaly raced into a 1-5 to 0-0 lead. Clodagh Leahy (Lusmagh/Drumcullen) rattled off three early frees and David Sullivan's charges were boosted further when Becky found the back of Maggie Randle’s net.

Ciara Foley opened Meath’s scoring tally with a pointed free in the 11th minute. The Royals were given some hope when Olivia O’Halloran put through Amy Gaffney and the Ratoath woman slotted the sliotar past Leah Gallagher to leave five between the sides.

But Offaly responded to Gaffney’s goal with two points in quick succession courtesy of Bryant and Leahy. Joint Offaly captain Grace Teehan then started to cause the Meath defence a lot of issues, and the Naomh Bríd player brushed aside Aine McNerney before finishing the sliotar brilliantly to the net to give Offaly a second goal.

Teehan brought her tally to 1-4 with two more scores either side of a fantastic individual score from midfielder Leahy.

Meath’s only other score of the half came in the 29th minute when Foley found O’Halloran with a pass across the Offaly goalmouth and the Kiltale woman finished off the move to give Meath their second goal.

Offaly put themselves further ahead early in the second half when Birr's Ellen Regan played Becky Bryant through and the Tullamore player found the net for Offaly’s third green flag.

Meath then enjoyed their best spell of the contest and, over the next 15 minutes, they outscored Offaly by 1-4 to 0-2. The goal came in the 35th minute when Amy Gaffney turned on the burners and evaded three Offaly defenders before finishing to the back of the net.

Gaffney’s goal was followed by well-taken scores courtesy of the Connolly twins, Grace and Katie. The pair had injected some life into the Meath attack and were linking up well together.

Normal service resumed for Offaly though in the 46th minute. Mairead Jenning’s attempt at a point dropped short and dipped under the crossbar for Offaly’s fourth goal.

Meath only managed to score two more points in the final ten minutes, courtesy of substitute Grace Coleman and Aoife Carey (a free). Offaly scored another 1-4 in the final five minutes, the goal coming from sub Leah Gath, to seal their passage to the semi-finals with a flourish.

Player of the match: Grace Teehan (Offaly).

SCORERS - Offaly: B Bryant 2-2; G Teehan 1-5; C Leahy 0-8 (6 frees); M Jennings 1-2 (0-1f); L Gath 1-0; G Kennedy 0-1. Meath: A Gaffney 2-1; O O’Halloran 1-0; G Connolly, K Connolly, G Coleman, C Foley (f) and Carey (f) 0-1 each

Offaly: Leah Gallagher; Sharon Shanahan, Cathy Fogarty, Orla Gorman; Orlagh Phelan, Ellen Regan, Alana Roddy; Faye Mulrooney, Clodagh Leahy; Grace Teehan, Ciara Ryan, Fianait Dooley; Mairead Jennings, Aine O’Connor, Becky Bryant. Subs: Grainne Kennedy for Ryan (41 mins), Kaitlyn Kennedy for O’Connor (46), Leah Gath for Mulrooney (53), Lizzie Harding for Regan (55), Hannah Feenane for Jennings (57).

Meath: Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Rachel O’Neil; Leah Devine, Maeve Clince, Aine McNerney; Erin Leddy, Tracey King; Aoibhinn Lally, Amy Gaffney, Aoife Carey; Olivia O’Halloran, Ciara Foley, Ellen Burke. Subs: Grace Connolly for King (31 mins), Grace Coleman for Lally (H-T), Katie Connolly for McNerney (H-T), Rachel Moran for Leddy (39), Ella O’Brien for Foley (53).

Referee: Mike Ryan (Tipperary).