Longford ladies fade in the second half as Offaly come out on top

Longford missed out on a place in the Ladies Football National League Division 4 semi-finals when they lost to Offaly in the refixed Round 5 fixture at the Cappincur GAA grounds (close to Tullamore) on Sunday. 

Offaly . . . 3-18     Longford . . . 2-12

Thanks to a goal and a couple of points from midfielder Michelle Farrell, the visitors held a slender 1-10 to 1-9 lead at the break with Aoife Darcy (4), Katie Crawford (2), Ailbhe Brady and Kamille Burke also getting their names on the scoresheet. 

Offaly gradually took control on the changeover despite a yellow card for centre-half-back Emma Maher in the 41st minute and she was followed to the sin-bin soon after by Longford keeper Aoife Cooney. 

The Faithful County clocked up a total of 2-9 in the second half with lethal full-forward Saorah Doyle scoring both goals (the first from a penalty in the 40th minute) as her side ran out comprehensive winners in the end.

The dangerous Doyle registered the impressive total of 2-10 to inflict most of the damage during the course of the game. 

Without the suspended Sian Gallagher, Longford only managed to add another 1-2 to their tally in the second half with Katie Crawford scoring the goal in the closing stages while the points were registered by Aoife Darcy and substitute Hannah Burke. 

There is now a break until the stand alone Leinster Junior Championship in April while Offaly and Longford will meet again in the group stage of the All-Ireland Junior Championship in the summer along with Antrim, Derry and Kilkenny. 

Carlow, Sligo and London are pitted in the other section with the top two in each group qualifying for the TG4 All-Ireland semi-finals.   

OFFALY: Lauren Dunne; Saoirse McGuinness, Fiona Dempsey, Nicole Buckley; Meabh Rouse, Emma Maher, Anna Grehan; Roisin Mealiff, Roisin Ennis; Faith McDermott, Marie Byrne, Emma Hand; Caoimhe Lynam, Saorah Doyle, Michelle Mann.  

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney (Clonguish); Amy Creegan (Ballymore), Leanne Keegan (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh), Riane McGrath (Killoe); Rachel Fallon (St Brigid’s Gaels), Emma Farrell (St Brigid’s Gaels), Emma Doris (Killoe); Michelle Farrell (Colmcille, 1-2), Shauna Hagan (Dromard); Aoife Nolan (Rathcline), Katie Crawford (Carrickedmond, 1-2), Ailbhe Brady (Mostrim, 0-1); Edel Sheehy (Mullinalaghta), Kamille Burke (Clonguish, 0-1), Aoife Darcy (Clonguish, 0-5).    

Subs (second half):- Siobhan Egan (Carrickedmond) for A Nolan; Hannah Burke (Clonguish, 0-1) for E Sheehy.